Endoplasmic reticulum stress controls PIN-LIKES abundance and thereby growth adaptation.

Extreme environmental conditions eventually limit plant growth [J. R. Dinneny, Annu. Rev. Cell Dev. Biol. 35, 1-19 (2019), N. Gigli-Bisceglia, C. Testerink, Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 64, 102120 (2021)]. Here, we reveal a mechanism that enables multiple external cues to get integrated into auxin-dependent growth programs in Arabidopsis thaliana. Our forward genetics approach on dark-grown hypocotyls uncovered that an imbalance in membrane lipids enhances the protein abundance of PIN-LIKES (PILS) [E. Barbez et al., Nature 485, 119 (2012)] auxin transport facilitators at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which thereby limits nuclear auxin signaling and growth rates. We show that this subcellular response relates to ER stress signaling, which directly impacts PILS protein turnover in a tissue-dependent manner. This mechanism allows PILS proteins to integrate environmental input with phytohormone auxin signaling, contributing to stress-induced growth adaptation in plants.

PILS proteins provide a homeostatic feedback on auxin signaling output.

Multiple internal and external signals modulate the metabolism, intercellular transport and signaling of the phytohormone auxin. Considering this complexity, it remains largely unknown how plant cells monitor and ensure the homeostasis of auxin responses. PIN-LIKES (PILS) intracellular auxin transport facilitators at the endoplasmic reticulum are suitable candidates to buffer cellular auxin responses because they limit nuclear abundance and signaling of auxin. We used forward genetics to identify gloomy and shiny pils (gasp) mutants that define the PILS6 protein abundance in a post-translational manner. Here, we show that GASP1 encodes an uncharacterized RING/U-box superfamily protein that impacts on auxin signaling output. The low auxin signaling in gasp1 mutants correlates with reduced abundance of PILS5 and PILS6 proteins. Mechanistically, we show that high and low auxin conditions increase and reduce PILS6 protein levels, respectively. Accordingly, non-optimum auxin concentrations are buffered by alterations in PILS6 abundance, consequently leading to homeostatic auxin output regulation. We envision that this feedback mechanism provides robustness to auxin-dependent plant development.

CT perfusion imaging of lung cancer: benefit of motion correction for blood flow estimates.

PURPOSE: CT perfusion (CTP) imaging assessment of treatment response in advanced lung cancer can be compromised by respiratory motion. Our purpose was to determine whether an original motion correction method could improve the reproducibility of such measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional review board approved this prospective study. Twenty-one adult patients with non-resectable non-small-cell lung cancer provided written informed consent to undergo CTP imaging. A motion correction method that consisted of manually outlining the tumor margins and then applying a rigid manual landmark registration algorithm followed by the non-rigid diffeomorphic demons algorithm was applied. The non-motion-corrected and motion-corrected images were analyzed with dual blood supply perfusion analysis software. Two observers performed the analysis twice, and the intra- and inter-observer variability of each method was assessed with Bland-Altman statistics. RESULTS: The 95% limits of agreement of intra-observer reproducibility for observer 1 improved from -84.4%, 65.3% before motion correction to -33.8%, 30.3% after motion correction (r = 0.86 and 0.97, before and after motion correction, p < 0.0001 for both) and for observer 2 from -151%, 96% to -49 %, 36 % (r = 0.87 and 0.95, p < 0.0001 for both). The 95% limits of agreement of inter-observer reproducibility improved from -168%, 154% to -17%, 25%. CONCLUSION: The use of a motion correction method significantly improves the reproducibility of CTP estimates of tumor blood flow in lung cancer. KEY POINTS: • Tumor blood flow estimates in advanced lung cancer show significant variability. • Motion correction improves the reproducibility of CT blood flow estimates in advanced lung cancer. • Reproducibility of blood flow measurements is critical to characterize lung tumor biology and the success of treatment in lung cancer.

Purification of pineapple bromelain by IMAC chromatography using chlorophyll-activated macroporous matrices.

This study investigated the purification of bromelain obtained from pineapple fruit using a new adsorbent for immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC), with chlorophyll obtained from plant leaves as a chelating agent. The purification of bromelain was evaluated in batches from the crude extract of pineapple pulp (EXT), and the extract precipitated with 50 % ammonium sulfate (EXT.PR), the imidazole buffer (200 mM, pH 7.2) being analyzed and sodium acetate buffer, pH 5.0 + 1.0 NaCl as elution solutions. All methods tested could separate forms of bromelain with molecular weights between ±21 to 25 kDa. Although the technique using EXT.PR stood out in terms of purity, presenting a purification factor of around 3.09 ± 0.31 for elution with imidazole and 4.23 ± 0.12 for acetate buffer solution. In contrast, the EXT methods obtained values between 2.44 ± 0.23 and 3.21 ± 0.74 for elution with imidazole and acetate buffer, respectively, for purification from EXT.PR has lower yield values (around 5 %) than EXT (around 15 %). The number of steps tends to reduce yield and increase process costs, so the purification process in a monolithic bed coupled to the chromatographic system using the crude extract was evaluated. The final product obtained had a purification factor of 6, with a specific enzymatic activity of 59.61 ± 0.00 U·mg-1 and a yield of around 39 %, with only one band observed in the SDS-PAGE electrophoresis analysis, indicating that the matrix produced can separate specific proteins from the total fraction in the raw material. The IMAC matrix immobilized with chlorophyll proved promising and viable for application in protease purification processes.

conTemporary reflectiOns regarding heart failure manaGEmenT - How to ovERcome the PorTuguese barriers (TOGETHER-PT).

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome that is a significant burden in hospitalisations, morbidity, and mortality. Although a significant effort has been made to better understand its consequences and current barriers in its management, there are still several gaps to address. The present work aimed to identify the views of a multidisciplinary group of health care professionals on HF awareness and literacy, diagnosis, treatment and organization of care, identifying current challenges and providing insights into the future. METHODS: A steering committee was established, including members of the Heart Failure Study Group of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology (GEIC-SPC), the Heart Failure Study Group of the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine (NEIC-SPMI) and the Cardiovascular Study Group (GEsDCard) of the Portuguese Association of General and Family Medicine (APMGF). This steering committee produced a 16-statement questionnaire regarding different HF domains that was answered to by a diversified group of 152 cardiologists, internists, general practitioners, and nurses with an interest or dedicated to HF using a five-level Likert scale. Full agreement was defined as ≥80% of level 5 (fully agree) responses. RESULTS: Globally, consensus was achieved in all but one of the 16 statements. Full agreement was registered in seven statements, namely 3 of 4 statements for patient education and HF awareness and 2 in 4 statements of both HF diagnosis and healthcare organization, with proportions of fully agree responses ranging from 82.9% to 96.7%. None of the HF treatment statements registered full agreement but 3 of 4 achieved ≥80% of level 4 (agree) responses. CONCLUSION: This document aims to be a call-to-action to improve HF patients' quality of life and prognosis, by promoting a change in HF care in Portugal.

Medical Device-Related Pressure Injury in an Intensive Care Unit: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Medical devices can cause pressure injuries. PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with medical device-related pressure injury (MDRPI) in an intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed among adult patients (at least 18 years of age) admitted to an ICU in a referral hospital in Brazil between December 2019 and February 2020. The skin of patients who consented to participate was assessed for the presence of an MDRPI, and the use of all medical devices was noted. Other independent variables (sociodemographic variables, medical history, pressure injury risk factors, medications, and length of hospitalization) were abstracted from the medical records. Bivariate data analysis included Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test; odds ratio and a confidence interval of 95% also were established. Correlation among independent variables and MDRPI was determined using the ρ Spearman correlation test, and a hierarchical binary logistic regression analysis was performed using statistically significant variables from the bivariate analysis. P < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The 125 study participants ranged in age from 15 to 97 years (mean, 63.02 ± 19.2), 76 (60.8%) were men, and 76 (60.8%) were White. Of the 125 participants, 43 (34%) experienced MDRPI; the total number of MDRPIs was 58 (3 patients had 3 injuries, and 7 patients had 2 injuries). Of those 58 MDRPIs, 46 were stage 1, and 12 were stage 2. Polypharmacy (> 4 medications) was a significant risk factor for MDRPI. Use of a nasal catheter, cord for orotracheal tube fixation, oximeter, intra-abdominal pressure equipment, and indwelling urinary catheter was significantly associated with the presence of MDRPI. Renal and respiratory diseases and the presence of infection were positively related to the presence of MDRPI. CONCLUSION: Medical device-related pressure injury was prevalent in this patient population. Most of these injuries were stage 1, which suggests that frequent monitoring and device repositioning (when possible) may help prevent more serious injuries. Additional research involving other hospitals in Brazil is needed to increase the understanding of the prevalence and risk factors of MDRPIs in patients in the ICU.

A Novel Predictive Model to Estimate the Number of Mature Oocytes Required for Obtaining at Least One Euploid Blastocyst for Transfer in Couples Undergoing in vitro Fertilization/Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection: The ART Calculator.

The POSEIDON group (Patient-Oriented Strategies Encompassing IndividualizeD Oocyte Number) has introduced "the ability to retrieve the number of oocytes needed to achieve at least one euploid embryo for transfer" as an intermediate marker of successful outcome in IVF/ICSI cycles. This study aimed to develop a novel calculator to predict the POSEIDON marker. We analyzed clinical and embryonic data of infertile couples who underwent IVF/ICSI with the intention to have trophectoderm biopsy for preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy. We used the negative binomial distribution to model the number of euploid blastocysts and the adaptive LASSO (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator) method for variable selection. The fitted model selected female age, sperm source used for ICSI, and the number of mature (metaphase II) oocytes as predictors (p < 0.0001). Female age was the most important factor for predicting the probability of a blastocyst being euploid given each mature oocyte (loglikelihood of age [adjusted for sperm source]: 30.9; df = 2; p < 0.0001). The final predictive model was developed using logistic regression analysis, and internally validated by the holdout method. The predictive ability of the model was assessed by the ROC curve, which resulted in an area under the curve of 0.716. Using the final model and mathematical equations, we calculated the individualized probability of blastocyst euploidy per mature retrieved oocyte and the minimum number of mature oocytes required to obtain ≥1 euploid blastocyst-with their 95% confidence interval [CI]-for different probabilities of success. The estimated predicted probabilities of a mature oocyte turn into a euploid blastocyst decreased progressively with female age and was negatively modulated overall by use of testicular sperm across age (p < 0.001). A calculator was developed to make two types of predictions automatically, one using pretreatment information to estimate the minimum number of mature oocytes to achieve ≥1 euploid blastocyst, and another based on the actual number of mature oocytes collected/accumulated to estimate the chances of having a euploid blastocyst using that oocyte cohort for IVF/ICSI. The new ART calculator may assist in clinical counseling and individualized treatment planning regarding the number of oocytes required for at least one euploid blastocyst in IVF/ICSI procedures.

Moving the needle towards the democratization of echocardiography: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Echocardiography has been traditionally performed in echo labs and the potential benefits of its use by primary care physicians (PCPs) are still unexplored. We present a case where POCUS (point-of-care ultrasound) was used as a complement of physical examination by a family doctor, allowing a prompt clinical decision in a heart failure (HF) patient. CASE SUMMARY: An 85-year-old woman, living independently, asks her family doctor for a home consultation due to increasing dyspnoea. On examination, severe dyspnoea and bilateral ankle oedema was noted and a point-of-care echocardiogram was performed by the primary care physician, who observed: severely compromised left ventricular systolic function, moderate mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, and severe dilation of the inferior vena cava. As a result, the diagnosis of HF with decreased ejection fraction was formed supporting the therapeutic decision. DISCUSSION: This case represents an elderly patient with dyspnoea, without previous HF diagnosis. The primary care physician, used portable ultrasound as a complement of physical examination, which confirmed a HF diagnosis, allowing a prompt decision-making on therapy. POCUS, can be a powerful tool to expedite treatment in different settings, including the home consultations by PCPs.

A large population of diverse neurons in the Drosophila central nervous system expresses short neuropeptide F, suggesting multiple distributed peptide functions.

BACKGROUND: Insect neuropeptides are distributed in stereotypic sets of neurons that commonly constitute a small fraction of the total number of neurons. However, some neuropeptide genes are expressed in larger numbers of neurons of diverse types suggesting that they are involved in a greater diversity of functions. One of these widely expressed genes, snpf, encodes the precursor of short neuropeptide F (sNPF). To unravel possible functional diversity we have mapped the distribution of transcript of the snpf gene and its peptide products in the central nervous system (CNS) of Drosophila in relation to other neuronal markers. RESULTS: There are several hundreds of neurons in the larval CNS and several thousands in the adult Drosophila brain expressing snpf transcript and sNPF peptide. Most of these neurons are intrinsic interneurons of the mushroom bodies. Additionally, sNPF is expressed in numerous small interneurons of the CNS, olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) of the antennae, and in a small set of possibly neurosecretory cells innervating the corpora cardiaca and aorta. A sNPF-Gal4 line confirms most of the expression pattern. None of the sNPF immunoreactive neurons co-express a marker for the transcription factor DIMMED, suggesting that the majority are not neurosecretory cells or large interneurons involved in episodic bulk transmission. Instead a portion of the sNPF producing neurons co-express markers for classical neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, GABA and glutamate, suggesting that sNPF is a co-transmitter or local neuromodulator in ORNs and many interneurons. Interestingly, sNPF is coexpressed both with presumed excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. A few sNPF expressing neurons in the brain colocalize the peptide corazonin and a pair of dorsal neurons in the first abdominal neuromere coexpresses sNPF and insulin-like peptide 7 (ILP7). CONCLUSION: It is likely that sNPF has multiple functions as neurohormone as well as local neuromodulator/co-transmitter in various CNS circuits, including olfactory circuits both at the level of the first synapse and at the mushroom body output level. Some of the sNPF immunoreactive axons terminate in close proximity to neurosecretory cells producing ILPs and adipokinetic hormone, indicating that sNPF also might regulate hormone production or release.

Growth, productivity and viability of irrigation in cassava crop in the Alagoas coastal plateaus / Crescimento, produtividade e viabilidade da irrigação na cultura da mandioca nos tabuleiros costeiros de Alagoas

This research evaluated the effects of the irrigation on growth and productivity of irrigated cassava in the Coastal Plateaus of Alagoas. The planting was done in randomized blocks, with six treatments and four replications. The treatments were irrigation levels in function of crop evapotranspiration - ETC (L0 = 0% (rainfed), L1 = 40%, L2 = 80%, L3 = 120%, L4 = 160% and L5 = 200% of ETC). The total water applied was defined as the total irrigation plus the effective rain. The annual evapotranspiration of the cassava plantations in the Costal Plateaus of Alagoas, was 1,030 mm. Plant growth increased significantly with irrigation and the maximum values of the following variables are: leaf area index = 7.6, length of commercial roots = 49 cm, maximum productivity (physical and economic) of commercial roots = 94 Mg ha-¹ and total biomass = 149 Mg ha-¹ and the harvest index = 0.66, all obtained with total irrigation depths (effective rain plus irrigation) between 817 and 963 mm. Finally, it is ratified that understanding the growth, the agricultural and economically viable productivity of irrigated cassava, is an indispensable factor for good management of the crop, especially in regions with irregular rainfall such as the Northeast of Brazil.

Esta pesquisa avaliou os efeitos da irrigação no crescimento e na produtividade da mandioca irrigada nos Tabuleiros Costeiros alagoanos. O plantio foi feito em blocos casualizados, com seis tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram níveis de irrigação em função da evapotranspiração da cultura - ETC (L0 = 0% (sequeiro), L1 = 40%, L2 = 80%, L3 = 120%, L4 = 160% e L5 = 200% da ETC). A lâmina total foi definida como o total da irrigação mais a chuva efetiva. A evapotranspiração anual da cultura da mandioca nos Tabuleiros Costeiros de Alagoas é 1.030 mm. O crescimento das plantas aumentou significativamente com a irrigação e os valores máximos das seguintes variáveis são: índice de área foliar = 7,6; comprimento de raízes comerciais = 49 cm; produtividades (física e econômica) máximas de raízes comerciais = 94 t ha-¹ e biomassa total = 149 t ha-¹ e o índice de colheita = 0,66, todos obtidos com lâminas de irrigação totais (chuva efetiva mais irrigação) entre 817 e 963 mm. Por fim, ratifica-se que entender o crescimento, as produtividades agrícola e economicamente viáveis da mandioca irrigada, é fator indispensável para se fazer um bom manejo da cultura, principalmente, em regiões com irregularidade de chuvas como o nordeste brasileiro.

Trimethylation of histone 3 at lysine 4 in cryopreserved bovine embryos produced in vivo with sexed semen.

The production rates of viable embryos using sexed semen through the conventional methodologies of multiple ovulation and embryo transfer are generally not satisfactory. However, the cryopreservation of these embryos is considered efficient. Knowledge of epigenetics can provide new tools or allow for adapting new protocols that could enhance the efficiency of reproductive biotechnologies. The aim of this study was to characterize the pattern of trimethylation of histone 3 at lysine 4 (H3K4me3) in bovine embryos produced in vivo with sexed semen that were submitted to cryopreservation. Bos taurus × Bos indicus cows (n = 5) were superovulated and inseminated with sexed (two sessions) or conventional (two sessions) semen. A portion of the embryos collected on Day 7 was immediately stored in paraformaldehyde (3%) and another portion was stored in paraformaldehyde after cryopreservation/thawing. All embryos from the four groups (fresh, conventional semen; fresh, sexed semen; cryopreserved, conventional semen; and cryopreserved, sexed semen; 15 embryos per group) were evaluated by immunofluorescence under confocal microscopy to identify and quantify the H3K4me3 status. In total, 190 embryos were recovered, 100 of which were produced with conventional semen and 90 with sexed semen. The use of conventional semen after superovulation yielded 72% (72 of 100) viable embryos, which were mostly (81%; 59 of 72) in advanced stages of development (blastocysts and expanded blastocysts). Embryos produced with sexed semen had a lower viability rate (36.7%; 33 of 90), and most of them were collected at earlier stages of development (morulae and early blastocysts; P < 0.05). The H3K4me3 signal was similar among groups; however, there was a difference between morulae and blastocysts. A high intensity of H3K4me3 was observed in bovine embryos produced in vivo, and this pattern did not vary using sexed semen and the slow cryopreservation process. The lower viability of bovine embryos produced with sexed semen could be not explained by differences in H3K4me. Cryopreservation did not alter the pattern of H3K4me3; in this sense, we suggest that it is a process that exerts minimal damage to the embryos.

Neem oil increases the efficiency of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae for the control of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae.

BACKGROUND: Entomopathogenic fungi are potential candidates for use in integrated vector management and many isolates are compatible with synthetic and natural insecticides. Neem oil was tested separately and in combination with the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae against larvae of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti. Our aim was to increase the effectiveness of the fungus for the control of larval mosquito populations. METHODS: Commercially available neem oil was used at concentrations ranging from 0.0001 to 1%. Larval survival rates were monitored over a 7 day period following exposure to neem. The virulence of the fungus M. anisopliae was confirmed using five conidial concentrations (1 × 10(5) to 1 × 10(9) conidia mL(-1)) and survival monitored over 7 days. Two concentrations of fungal conidia were then tested together with neem (0.001%). Survival curve comparisons were carried out using the Log-rank test and end-point survival rates were compared using one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: 1% neem was toxic to A. aegypti larvae reducing survival to 18% with S50 of 2 days. Neem had no effect on conidial germination or fungal vegetative growth in vitro. Larval survival rates were reduced to 24% (S50 = 3 days) when using 1 × 10(9) conidia mL(-1). Using 1 × 10(8) conidia mL(-1), 30% survival (S50 = 3 days) was observed. We tested a "sub-lethal" neem concentration (0.001%) together with these concentrations of conidia. For combinations of neem + fungus, the survival rates were significantly lower than the survival rates seen for fungus alone or for neem alone. Using a combination of 1 × 10(7) conidia mL(-1) + neem (0.001%), the survival rates were 36%, whereas exposure to the fungus alone resulted in 74% survival and exposure to neem alone resulted in 78% survival. When using 1 × 10(8) conidia mL(-1), the survival curves were modified, with a combination of the fungus + neem resulting in 12% survival, whilst the fungus alone at this concentration also significantly reduced survival rates (28%). CONCLUSIONS: The use of adjuvants is an important strategy for maintaining/increasing fungal virulence and/or shelf-life. The addition of neem to conidial suspensions improved virulence, significantly reducing larval survival times and percentages.

Coronalon: a powerful tool in plant stress physiology.

Coronalon, a synthetic 6-ethyl indanoyl isoleucine conjugate, has been designed as a highly active mimic of octadecanoid phytohormones that are involved in insect and disease resistance. The spectrum of biological activities that is affected by coronalon was investigated in nine different plant systems specifically responding to jasmonates and/or 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid. In all bioassays analyzed, coronalon demonstrated a general strong activity at low micromolar concentrations. The results obtained showed the induction of (i) defense-related secondary metabolite accumulation in both cell cultures and plant tissues, (ii) specific abiotic and biotic stress-related gene expression, and (iii) root growth retardation. The general activity of coronalon in the induction of plant stress responses together with its simple and efficient synthesis suggests that this compound might serve as a valuable tool in the examination of various aspects in plant stress physiology. Moreover, coronalon might become employed in agriculture to elicit plant resistance against various aggressors.

The effects of temperature and pressure on the characteristics of the extracts from high-pressure CO(2) extraction of Majorana hortensis Moench.

The aim of this work is to assess the influence of temperature and pressure (solvent density) on the characteristics of the essential oil obtained from high-pressure carbon dioxide extraction of marjoram (commercial marjoram samples available in the free market and Majorana hortensis Moench, cultivated in South Brazil under rigorous agronomic conditions). The extracts were analyzed in terms of the liquid yield (extract/raw material, wt/wt) and distribution of volatile chemical components. The experiments were performed in a laboratory-scale unit using the dynamic method in the temperature range of 293.15-313.15 K, from 100 to 200 bar in pressure. Chemical analyses were carried out in a GC/MSD. Results show that an increase in temperature leads to a rise in the extract liquid yield despite large changes in solvent density. Chromatographic analyses permitted the identification of cis-sabinene hydrate, terpineol-4, alpha-terpineol, and cis-sabinene hydrate acetate as the main volatile compounds present in both commercial and cultivated samples.

Chemical composition and extraction yield of the extract of Origanum vulgare obtained from sub- and supercritical CO2.

In this work sub- and supercritical CO(2) were used to obtain extracts from two origanum samples, one commercial, and another cultivated under agronomic control. The experiments were performed in the temperature range of 293-313 K and from 100 to 200 bar in pressure, employing around 26 g of origanum samples. Results show that the commercial sample provides a higher yield of extract if compared to the other sample. It is also achieved that a raise in temperature at constant pressure leads to an increase in the extraction yield despite solvent density changes. Chemical analyses were carried out in a GC-MSD, allowing the identification of around 24 compounds by use of the library of spectra of the equipment and injection of some standard compounds for both commercial and cultivated origanum samples. It was also found that the distribution of chemical components as a function of extraction time differs appreciably between the origanum species. The chromatographic analysis permitted the identification of thymol and cis-sabinene hydrate as the most prominent compounds present in commercial oregano sample and carvacrol and cis-sabinene hydrate in the cultivated Origanum vulgare.

Análise de correspondência aplicada para a identificação de plantas benéficas da região de Salinas-MG / Correspondence analysis applied for the identification of beneficial plants of the Salinas-MG region

Plantas nativas são utilizadas na alimentação humana e na cura de enfermidades. No que diz respeito às plantas medicinais, o emprego das substâncias nelas contidas, advém do conhecimento empírico. Já as PANCs são conhecidas pela infinidade de benefícios à saúde, no entanto, há uma variedade de compostos desconhecidos por parte da comunidade científica. Diante do mencionado, objetivou-se coletar informações acerca das plantas com propriedades benéficas e, posteriormente dissipar este conhecimento. Foram feitas visitas in loco para obtenção de dados, e estes tratados pela técnica estatística de análise de correspondência. Foi feito, ainda, uma pesquisa na literatura para a comprovação dos dados encontrados na análise, e, por fim foram criadas cartilhas contendo as informações em relação a utilização das plantas endêmicas da região.(AU)

Análise de correspondência aplicada para a identificação de plantas benéficas da região de Salinas-MG / Correspondence analysis applied for the identification of beneficial plants of the Salinas-MG region

Plantas nativas são utilizadas na alimentação humana e na cura de enfermidades. No que diz respeito às plantas medicinais, o emprego das substâncias nelas contidas, advém do conhecimento empírico. Já as PANC’s são conhecidas pela infinidade de benefícios à saúde, no entanto, há uma variedade de compostos desconhecidos por parte da comunidade científica. Diante do mencionado, objetivou-se coletar informações acerca das plantas com propriedades benéficas e, posteriormente dissipar este conhecimento. Foram feitas visitas in loco para obtenção de dados, e estes tratados pela técnica estatística de análise de correspondência. Foi feito, ainda, uma pesquisa na literatura para a comprovação dos dados encontrados na análise, e, por fim foram criadas cartilhas contendo as informações em relação a utilização das plantas endêmicas da região.

Non-rigid registration of serial dedicated breast CT, longitudinal dedicated breast CT and PET/CT images using the diffeomorphic demons method.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Dedicated breast CT and PET/CT scanners provide detailed 3D anatomical and functional imaging data sets and are currently being investigated for applications in breast cancer management such as diagnosis, monitoring response to therapy and radiation therapy planning. Our objective was to evaluate the performance of the diffeomorphic demons (DD) non-rigid image registration method to spatially align 3D serial (pre- and post-contrast) dedicated breast computed tomography (CT), and longitudinally-acquired dedicated 3D breast CT and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT images. METHODS: The algorithmic parameters of the DD method were optimized for the alignment of dedicated breast CT images using training data and fixed. The performance of the method for image alignment was quantitatively evaluated using three separate data sets; (1) serial breast CT pre- and post-contrast images of 20 women, (2) breast CT images of 20 women acquired before and after repositioning the subject on the scanner, and (3) dedicated breast PET/CT images of 7 women undergoing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy acquired pre-treatment and after 1 cycle of therapy. RESULTS: The DD registration method outperformed no registration (p < 0.001) and conventional affine registration (p ≤ 0.002) for serial and longitudinal breast CT and PET/CT image alignment. In spite of the large size of the imaging data, the computational cost of the DD method was found to be reasonable (3-5 min). CONCLUSIONS: Co-registration of dedicated breast CT and PET/CT images can be performed rapidly and reliably using the DD method. This is the first study evaluating the DD registration method for the alignment of dedicated breast CT and PET/CT images.

THE DEVELOPMENT AND FEASIBILITY OF A BRIEF RISK REDUCTION INTERVENTION FOR NEWLY HIV-DIAGNOSED MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) represent more than half of all new HIV infections in the United States. Utilizing a collaborative, community based approach, a brief risk reduction intervention was developed and pilot tested among newly HIV-diagnosed MSM receiving HIV care in a primary care setting. Sixty-five men, within 3 months of diagnosis, were randomly assigned to the experimental condition or control condition and assessed at baseline, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up. Effect sizes were calculated to explore differences between conditions and over time. Results demonstrated the potential effectiveness of the intervention in reducing risk behavior, improving mental health, and increasing use of ancillary services. Process evaluation data demonstrated the acceptability of the intervention to patients, clinic staff, and administration. The results provide evidence that a brief intervention can be successfully integrated into HIV care services for newly diagnosed MSM and should be evaluated for efficacy.