Production and performance of sugarcane seeds (caryopses) from different hybridizations involving RB92579.

A major challenge in sugarcane breeding program is the obtaining of enough number of seeds (caryopses) for the development of new improved cultivars. Genotypes differ in their function as pollen recipient and pollen donor, which also affect the seed performance. Thus, the aim of this study was to verify the production and performance of sugarcane seeds from different hybridizations involving RB92579 as pollen recipient and pollen donor. Twelve bi-parental crossings were carried out involving RB92579 and other different genotypes randomly chosen. Seed production potential was evaluated by percentage of fertile spikelets and caryopsis fresh weight. The seed physiological potential was determined by evaluating germination and vigor (index of germination rate, number of normal seedlings per gram of fuzz, and seedling dry weight). The results showed better performance for RB92579 as pollen donor for all characteristics studied. Therefore, RB92579 sugarcane cultivar should be used as pollen donor during hybridizations, condition that permits a greater production and physiological performance of seeds for the sugarcane breeding programs.

Neurotoxicity in zebrafish exposed to carbon nanotubes: Effects on neurotransmitters levels and antioxidant system.

Given the increasing use of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in several industries and technological applications, it is essential to perform in vivo toxicological studies with these nanomaterials to evaluate their potential ecotoxicity. Dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5HT) are key neurotransmitters for brain functions and behavioral responses. Determination of DA and 5HT were performed in brain samples from zebrafish Danio rerio exposed i.p. to single-walled CNT (SWCNT), besides analyzing acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and ectonucleotidases activity, lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity. Results showed that treatment with SWCNT increased between 3 and 6-fold the concentration of DA and 5HT (p < 0.05). Similarly, a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in AChE activity was observed in the brains of SWCNT exposed zebrafish when compared to the control groups. Cholinergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic systems, through AChE activity and serotonin and dopamine levels, respectively were affected by SWCNT in the zebrafish brain. Alterations in these neurotransmitters can potentially affect several physiological and behavioral that they control.

Genomic resources for energy cane breeding in the post genomics era.

Sugarcane is one of the most sustainable energy crops among cultivated crops presenting the highest tonnage of cultivated plants. Its high productivity of sugar, bioethanol and bioelectricity make it a promising green alternative to petroleum. Furthermore, the myriad of products that can be derived from sugarcane biomass has been driving breeding programs towards varieties with a higher yield of fiber and a more vigorous and sustainable performance: the energy cane. Here we provide an overview of the energy cane including plant description, breeding efforts, types, and end-uses. In addition, we describe recently published genomic resources for the development of this crop, discuss current knowledge of cell wall metabolism, bioinformatic tools and databases available for the community.

[Ductus venosus Doppler velocimetry to predict acidemia at birth in pregnancies with placental insufficiency]. / Dopplervelocimetria do ducto venoso na predição da acidemia fetal.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the possibility of predicting acidemia at birth in pregnancies with placental insufficiency by Doppler velocimetry of the ductus venosus and to establish the best parameter and cut-off points in this prediction. METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study, involving 47 single pregnancies with placental insufficiency after 26 weeks of gestation, carried out at the "Hospital São Paulo (UNIFESP) and Maternidade-Escola Assis Chateaubriand (UFC)". Placental insufficiency was defined as the umbilical artery pulsatility index above the 95th percentile for gestational age. Fetuses with chromosomal or structural anomalies were excluded. The time interval between the Doppler velocimetry and the birth was of less than 24 hours. The umbilical arterial blood samples were collected immediately after birth. Acidemia was defined as umbilical arterial pH < 7.2 in the absence of uterine contractions and < 7.15 in the presence of contractions. Metabolic or mixed acidemia at birth was considered pathological. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were calculated for S, D and A-velocities, pulsatility index for veins and the S/A ratio and (S-A)/S ratio of the ductus venosus. Parameters were compared using the MacNemar Test RESULTS: S, D and A-velocities of the ductus venosus were poor predictors of acidemia at birth. The pulsatility index for veins (area under the curve 0.79, p=0.003), S/A ratio and (S-A)/S ratio (area under the curve 0.818, p=0.001) of the DV were strongly related to fetal acidemia. The cut-off points calculated were: pulsatility index for veins = 0.76; S/A ratio = 2.67 and (S-A)/S ratio = 0.63. CONCLUSIONS: The angle-independent indices of the DV Doppler are adequate for the diagnosis of fetal acidemia in gestations with placental insufficiency. No statistically significant differences were observed between these parameters.

Influence of H-HOPE intervention for premature infants on growth, feeding progression and length of stay during initial hospitalization.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether premature infants receiving the maternally administered H-HOPE (Hospital to Home Transition-Optimizing Premature Infant's Environment) intervention had more rapid weight gain and growth, improved feeding progression and reduced length of hospital stay, compared with controls. STUDY DESIGN: Premature infants born at 29-34 weeks gestational age and their mothers with at least two social-environmental risk factors were randomly assigned to H-HOPE intervention (n=88) or an attention control (n=94) groups. H-HOPE consists of a 15-min multisensory intervention (Auditory, Tactile, Visual and Vestibular stimuli) performed twice daily prior to feeding plus maternal participatory guidance on preterm infant behavioral cues. RESULT: H-HOPE group infants gained weight more rapidly over time than infants in the control group and grew in length more rapidly than control infants, especially during the latter part of the hospital stay. CONCLUSION: For healthy preterm infants, the H-HOPE intervention appears to improve weight gain and length over time from birth to hospital discharge.

Evaluation of cardiovascular toxicity of carbon nanotubes functionalized with sodium hyaluronate in oral regenerative medicine.

It has been demonstrated that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) associated with sodium hyaluronate (HY-CNTs) accelerate bone repair in the tooth sockets of rats. Before clinical application of HY-CNTs, it is important to assess their biocompatibility. Moreover, cardiac toxicity may be caused by the translocation of these particles to the blood stream. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible changes in cardiovascular function in male Wistar rats whose tooth sockets were treated with either CNTs or HY-CNTs (100 µg/mL, 0.1 mL). Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored in conscious rats 7 days after treatment. Cardiac function was evaluated using the Langendorff perfusion technique. The data showed no changes in blood pressure or heart rate in rats treated with either CNTs or HY-CNTs, and no significant changes in cardiac function were found in any of the groups. To confirm these findings, experiments were conducted in rats injected intraperitoneally with a high concentration of either CNTs or HY-CNTs (0.75 mg/kg). The same parameters were analyzed and similar results were observed. The results obtained 7 days following injection indicate that the administration of low concentrations of CNTs or HY-CNTs directly into tooth sockets did not cause any significant change in cardiovascular function in the rats. The present findings support the possibility of using these biocomposites in humans.

Multi-target neurostimulation for adequate long-term relief of neuropathic and nociceptive chronic pain components.

Successful treatment of chronic pain for patients with failed back surgery syndrome can be extremely complicated. These patients require careful and individualized clinical assessment, as they often present with mixed pain syndromes that involve both neuropathic and nociceptive components. The distinct types of pain involved in such cases may require combined treatments from individual interventions that are analgesically independent and specific for each type of pain involved. Neuromodulation by electric stimulation at appropriately chosen targets and combinations may be an important option to consider for such patients. We present a case of combined debilitating axial nociceptive spinal pain and bilateral neuropathic leg pain in a patient after 14 failed back operations. A combination of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and deep brain stimulation in the periventricular gray (PVG) have successfully provided the patient with complete relief of both components of his chronic pain condition, after all other pain management options had been exhausted. By alternating activation of each implanted stimulator separately and in conjunction, we were able to demonstrate a clinically independent analgesic character for each stimulation system, each specific to a particular type of pain. The SCS provided complete relief of the neuropathic pain component, without affecting the nociceptive component at all. The PVG stimulation provided complete relief of the nociceptive component, without affecting the neuropathic component at all. In combination, there was complete relief of the total chronic pain condition. There appeared to be no overlapping or synergistic effect between the two neuromodulation systems in the patient. The patient has had prolonged complete relief from his chronic pain condition with the combined neuromodulation intervention over 22 years of follow-up.

Quality of life in patients with glaucoma who live in a developing country.

PURPOSE: To assess the functional status and well-being in glaucoma patients who live in a developing country. METHODS: Cross-sectional case control study, comprising 102 glaucoma patients and 58 controls. All subjects were administered the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form survey (SF-36). SF-36 scores for study and control groups were compared. Statistical analysis included Student's t-test for score data and Student's t- and chi-square tests for demographic data. RESULTS: Patients with glaucoma had significantly lower scores than healthy control subjects (p < 0.05) in five domains of the SF-36 survey (physical functioning, role-emotional, bodily pain, social functioning and mental health). Bodily pain was the domain with the lowest score. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with glaucoma who live in a developing country have less functional status than non-glaucomatous patients.

Dopplervelocimetria do ducto venoso na predicão da acidemia fetal / Ductus venosus Doppler velocimetry to predict acidemia at birth in pregnancies with placental insufficiency

OBJETIVOS: Investigar a possibilidade da predicão da acidemia no nascimento mediante dopplervelocimetria do ducto venoso e definir qual o melhor parâmetro e seus pontos de corte nessa predicão em gestacões com insuficiência placentária. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo transversal e prospectivo que analisou 47 gestacões únicas com insuficiência placentária e idade gestacional superior a 26 semanas, realizado no Hospital São Paulo (UNIFESP) e na Maternidade-Escola Assis Chateaubriand (UFC). A insuficiência placentária foi diagnosticada quando o índice de pulsatilidade da artéria umbilical encontrava-se acima do percentil 95 para a idade gestacional estimada. Fetos com anomalias estruturais ou cromossômicas foram excluídos. O doppler foi realizado a menos de 24 horas do parto. A amostra de sangue da artéria umbilical foi coletada imediatamente após o nascimento para análise da gasometria. Diagnosticou-se acidemia quando o pH encontrava-se abaixo de 7,20 na ausência de trabalho de parto e abaixo de 7,15 quando parto vaginal. Foram consideradas patológicas as acidemias metabólicas ou mistas. Construiu-se curva ROC para as velocidades S, D e A e para o IPV e as relacões S/A e (S-A)/S do DV (variáveis independentes) e acidemia (variável dependente). O teste de MacNemar foi utilizado para comparar os parâmetros entre si. RESULTADOS: As velocidades absolutas S, D e A mostraram ser pobres preditoras da acidemia no nascimento. O IPV mostrou ser bom preditor de acidemia (área sob a curva ROC 0,79, p=0,003). As relacões S/A e (S-A)/S também mostraram ser boas preditoras da acidemia (área sob a curva ROC 0,818, p=0,001). Os pontos de corte calculados foram: IPV = 0,76, S/A = 2,67 e (S-A)/S = 0,63. CONCLUSÕES: Os índices ângulo-independentes do doppler do DV mostraram excelente correlacão com acidemia no nascimento nesta populacão. Não houve diferenca estatisticamene significativa entre estes parâmetros.

Anestesia retrobulbar com catéter flexível de teflon em pacientes com comprimento axial ocular aumentado / Retrobulbar anesthesia with a flexible teflon catheter in patients with increased axial ocular lengt

Dentre as complicaçöes associadas à anestesia retrobulbar e peribulbar, perfuraçäo do globo ocular parece ser das mais importantes. Recente estudo ultrassonográfico demonstrou que, em pacientes submetidos à anestesia retrobulbar para cirurgia de catarata com comprimento axial normal, a ponta da agulha usada para injeçäo retrobulbar se encontrava muito próxima do globo ocular, as vezes até indentando sua parede. Tal fato pode se tornar extremamente perigosos em olhos com comprimento axial aumentado, como nos altos míopes. Demonstramos a eficácia e segurança do uso da técnica de anestesia retrobulbar com catéter flexível de Teflon em 15 pacientes com comprimento axial ocular ântero-posterior aumentado e candidatos à facectomia