A mutation in THREONINE SYNTHASE 1 uncouples proliferation and transition domains of the root apical meristem: experimental evidence and in silico proposed mechanism.

A continuum from stem to transit-amplifying to a differentiated cell state is a common theme in multicellular organisms. In the plant root apical meristem (RAM), transit-amplifying cells are organized into two domains: cells from the proliferation domain (PD) are displaced to the transition domain (TD), suggesting that both domains are necessarily coupled. Here, we show that in the Arabidopsis thaliana mto2-2 mutant, in which threonine (Thr) synthesis is affected, the RAM lacks the PD. Through a combination of cell length profile analysis, mathematical modeling and molecular markers, we establish that the PD and TD can be uncoupled. Remarkably, although the RAM of mto2-2 is represented solely by the TD, the known factors of RAM maintenance and auxin signaling are expressed in the mutant. Mathematical modeling predicts that the stem cell niche depends on Thr metabolism and that, when disturbed, the normal continuum of cell states becomes aborted.

Quality and health dimensions of pulse-based dairy alternatives with chickpeas, lupins and mung beans.

Health and environmental issues regarding dairy consumption have been highlighted in recent years leading to tremendous consumer demand for plant-based substitutes. In this review, we focused on quality and health dimensions of pulse-based dairy alternatives (PuBDA) using chickpeas, lupins and mung beans. Appraisal of existing documents show that there is limited information on PuBDA with the said pulses compared to similar materials such as soy and pea. Most of the studies focused on milk or fermented milks, either in full or partial substitution of the dairy ingredients with the pulses. Issues on stability, sensory properties, shelf life and nutritional quality were underlined by existing literature. Although it was emphasized in some reports the health potential through the bioactive components, there is scarce data on clinical studies showing actual health benefits of the featured PuBDA in this paper. There is also a scant number of these PuBDA that are currently available in the market and in general, these products have inferior nutritional quality compared to the animal-based counterparts. Technological innovations involving physical, biological and chemical techniques can potentially address the quality problems in the use of chickpeas, lupins, and mung beans as raw materials in dairy alternatives.

Neutralizing Ability of a Single Domain VNAR Antibody: In Vitro Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 is the causal pathogen of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The emergence of new variants with different mutational patterns has limited the therapeutic options available and complicated the development of effective neutralizing antibodies targeting the spike (S) protein. Variable New Antigen Receptors (VNARs) constitute a neutralizing antibody technology that has been introduced into the list of possible therapeutic options against SARS-CoV-2. The unique qualities of VNARs, such as high affinities for target molecules, capacity for paratope reformatting, and relatively high stability, make them attractive molecules to counteract the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. In this study, we characterized a VNAR antibody (SP240) that was isolated from a synthetic phage library of VNAR domains. In the phage display, a plasma with high antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 was used to selectively displace the VNAR antibodies bound to the antigen SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD). In silico data suggested that the SP240 binding epitopes are located within the ACE2 binding interface. The neutralizing ability of SP240 was tested against live Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants and was found to clear the infection of both variants in the lung cell line A549-ACE2-TMPRSS2. This study highlights the potential of VNARs to act as neutralizing antibodies against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Transcriptome analysis and molecular marker discovery in Solanum incanum and S. aethiopicum, two close relatives of the common eggplant (Solanum melongena) with interest for breeding.

BACKGROUND: Solanum incanum is a close wild relative of S. melongena with high contents of bioactive phenolics and drought tolerance. S. aethiopicum is a cultivated African eggplant cross-compatible with S. melongena. Despite their great interest in S. melongena breeding programs, the genomic resources for these species are scarce. RESULTS: RNA-Seq was performed with NGS from pooled RNA of young leaf, floral bud and young fruit tissues, generating more than one hundred millions raw reads per species. The transcriptomes were assembled in 83,905 unigenes for S. incanum and in 87,084 unigenes for S. aethiopicum with an average length of 696 and 722 bp, respectively. The unigenes were structurally and functionally annotated based on comparison with public databases by using bioinformatic tools. The single nucleotide variant calling analysis (SNPs and INDELs) was performed by mapping our S. incanum and S. aethiopicum reads, as well as reads from S. melongena and S. torvum available on NCBI database (National Center for Biotechnology Information), against the eggplant genome. Both intraspecific and interspecific polymorphisms were identified and subsets of molecular markers were created for all species combinations. 36 SNVs were selected for validation in the S. incanum and S. aethiopicum accessions and 96 % were correctly amplified confirming the polymorphisms. In addition, 976 and 1,278 SSRs were identified in S. incanum and S. aethiopicum transcriptomes respectively, and a set of them were validated. CONCLUSIONS: This work provides a broad insight into gene sequences and allelic variation in S. incanum and S. aethiopicum. This work is a first step toward better understanding of target genes involved in metabolic pathways relevant for eggplant breeding. The molecular markers detected in this study could be used across all the eggplant genepool, which is of interest for breeding programs as well as to perform marker-trait association and QTL analysis studies.

Unleashing the power of shark variable single domains (VNARs): broadly neutralizing tools for combating SARS-CoV-2.

The pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) generated a joint global effort to develop vaccines and other treatments that could mitigate the negative effects and the rapid spread of the virus. Single-domain antibodies derived from various sources, including cartilaginous fish, camelids, and humans, have gained attention as promising therapeutic tools against coronavirus disease 2019. Shark-derived variable new antigen receptors (VNARs) have emerged as the smallest naturally occurring antigen-binding molecules. Here, we compile and review recent published studies on VNARs with the capacity to recognize and/or neutralize SARS-CoV-2. We found a close balance between the use of natural immune libraries and synthetic VNAR libraries for the screening against SARS-CoV-2, with phage display being the preferred display technology for the selection of VNARs against this virus. In addition, we discuss potential modifications and engineering strategies employed to improve the neutralization potential of VNARs, such as exploring fusion with the Fc domain of human Immunoglobulin G (IgG) to increase avidity and therapeutic potential. This research highlights the potential of VNARs as powerful molecular tools in the fight against infectious diseases.

Chimeric Peptides from Californiconus californicus and Heterodontus francisci with Antigen-Binding Capacity: A Conotoxin Scaffold to Create Non-Natural Antibodies (NoNaBodies).

Research into various proteins capable of blocking metabolic pathways has improved the detection and treatment of multiple pathologies associated with the malfunction and overexpression of different metabolites. However, antigen-binding proteins have limitations. To overcome the disadvantages of the available antigen-binding proteins, the present investigation aims to provide chimeric antigen-binding peptides by binding a complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) of variable domains of new antigen receptors (VNARs) with a conotoxin. Six non-natural antibodies (NoNaBodies) were obtained from the complexes of conotoxin cal14.1a with six CDR3s from the VNARs of Heterodontus francisci and two NoNaBodies from the VNARs of other shark species. The peptides cal_P98Y vs. vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165), cal_T10 vs. transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß), and cal_CV043 vs. carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) showed in-silico and in vitro recognition capacity. Likewise, cal_P98Y and cal_CV043 demonstrated the capacity to neutralize the antigens for which they were designed.

Third molar extraction with massive hemorrhage treated by embolization.

Impaction of the third molar is relatively frequent in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and its removal is a usual operation with mostly unremarkable outcome. We report a case of bleeding that occurred after a left upper third molar extraction, which necessitated in emergency an angiography with embolization.

Tomato torrado virus is Transmitted by Bemisia tabaci and Infects Pepper and Eggplant in Addition to Tomato.

Torrao or torrado is an emerging disease that is causing serious economic losses in tomato crops of southeastern Spain. The causal agent has been shown to be a new picorna-like plant virus, tentatively named Tomato torrado virus (ToTV) (4). By using trap tomato plants in a greenhouse affected by torrado located in the Murcia Region of Spain, we obtained a ToTV isolate (ToTV-CE) that we have biologically and molecularly characterized. Subtracted cDNA libraries (1) and expressed sequence tags sequencing were used to determine the partial nucleotide sequence of ToTV-CE. We covered ≈53% of the virus genome (GenBank Accession Nos. EU476181 and EU476182) and found that ToTV-CE RNAs 1 and 2 had a high nucleotide similarity (98 and 99%, respectively) with the ToTV published sequences (2,4). ToTV-CE sequences also showed a 70% nt similarity with those of Tomato apex necrosis virus, a newly identified virus in tomato crops of the Culiacan area (Sinaloa, Mexico) (3). To characterize the host range of ToTV-CE, 6 to 10 plants belonging to 14 species were mechanically inoculated with extracts from ToTV-CE-infected Nicotiana benthamiana plants. The presence of ToTV in these plants was analyzed at 3 and 6 weeks postinoculation (PI) by molecular hybridization in dot-blots. The determined host range was in agreement with that described earlier (2,4), but additional hosts and nonhosts were identified. Thus, the virus did not infect melon (Cucumis melo var. cantaloupe), cucumber (C. sativus cv. Marketmore), squash (Cucurbita pepo cv. Negro Belleza), Chenopodium album ssp. Amaranticolor, or Chenopodium quinoa. The virus infected systemically N. benthamiana, N. glutinosa, N. rustica, tobacco (N. tabacum cvs. Xanthi nc and Samsun), Physalis floridana, pepper (Capsicum annuum cv. Italian Long Sweet), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Boludo), and eggplant (S. melongena cv. Black Beauty). Pepper plants displayed severe symptoms of infection consisting of marked mosaics and stunting (but no necrosis), but eggplant remained asymptomatic for up to 6 weeks PI. A simple assay was devised to analyze whether ToTV can be transmitted by whiteflies. ToTV-CE-infected tomato plants were placed together with three to eight healthy tomato seedlings inside insect-proof glass boxes. Adult Bemisia tabaci (100 to 800 individuals in three replicates) or Trialeurodes vaporariorum (100 individuals in one replicate) were released into each box. For both treatments, symptoms typically induced by ToTV appeared in one to seven tomato seedlings by 1 week after the release of the whiteflies. ToTV infection was confirmed by molecular hybridization in tissue prints of petiole cross sections at 10 days PI. These data are in agreement with those reported by Pospieszny et al. (2) and strongly suggest that both B. tabaci and T. vaporariorum can transmit ToTV. References: (1) L. Diachenko et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:6025, 1996. (2) H. Pospieszny et al. Plant Dis. 91:1364, 2007 (3) M. Turina et al. Plant Dis. 91:932, 2007. (4) M. Verbeek et al. Arch. Virol. 152:881, 2007.

Evaluación del Síndrome de burnout en la Secretaría de Educación Departamental de Norte de Santander (Colombia) / Evaluation of the Burnout Syndrome in the Departmental Education Secretariat of Norte de Santander (Colombia)

RESUMEN Objetivo Identificar la prevalencia del síndrome de burnout en el recurso humano de la Secretaría de Educación Departamental (SED) de Norte de Santander (Colombia) durante el año 2020. Métodos Se aplicó el cuestionario Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) a una muestra de 366 trabajadores. Resultados Este estudio muestra que los funcionarios son personas que actualmente no presentan el síndrome, pero se obtuvo una puntuación del 6% en referencia a la tendencia media y el 4% pertenecen a la tendencia alta. Se evidencia una futura aparición de síntomas asociados a estrés, agotamiento emocional, irritabilidad, frustración y depresión. Del 4% (13 personas) que dio tendencia alta al síndrome de burnout, el 54% corresponden al género femenino y 46%, al masculino, y en cuanto al cargo, 12 personas son docentes y 1 persona es directivo. Conclusiones La SED manifiesta un desconocimiento del síndrome y una diferencia con respecto al concepto del estrés.

ABSTRACT Objective Identify the prevalence of the burnout syndrome in the human resource of the Departmental Education Secretariat (SED, by its initials in Spanish) of Norte de Santander (Colombia) during 2020. Methods The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) questionnaire was applied to a sample of 366 workers. Results This study shows that officials are people who do not currently have the syndrome, but a score of 6% is presented in reference to the average trend and 4% belong to the high trend. A future appearance of symptoms associated with stress, emotional exhaustion, irritability, frustration, and depression was evidenced. Out of the 4% (13 people) who gave a high tendency to burnout syndrome, 54% correspond to the female gender and 46% to the male, and in terms of position, 12 people are teachers and 1 person is a manager. Conclusions The SED manifests a lack of knowledge of the syndrome and a difference with respect to the concept of stress.

Increasing the Number of Outpatients Receiving Spiritual Assessment: A Pain and Palliative Care Service Quality Improvement Project.

BACKGROUND: Spirituality is a patient need that requires special attention from the Pain and Palliative Care Service team. This quality improvement project aimed to provide spiritual assessment for all new outpatients with serious life-altering illnesses. MEASURES: Percentage of new outpatients receiving spiritual assessment (Faith, Importance/Influence, Community, Address/Action in care, psychosocial evaluation, chaplain consults) at baseline and postinterventions. INTERVENTION: Interventions included encouraging clinicians to incorporate adequate spiritual assessment into patient care and implementing chaplain covisits for all initial outpatient visits. OUTCOMES: The quality improvement interventions increased spiritual assessment (baseline vs. postinterventions): chaplain covisits (25.5% vs. 50%), Faith, Importance/Influence, Community, Address/Action in care completion (49% vs. 72%), and psychosocial evaluation (89% vs. 94%). CONCLUSIONS/LESSONS LEARNED: Improved spiritual assessment in an outpatient palliative care clinic setting can occur with a multidisciplinary approach. This project also identifies data collection and documentation processes that can be targeted for improvement.

dfh is a Drosophila homolog of the Friedreich's ataxia disease gene.

A putative Drosophila homolog of the Friedreich's ataxia disease gene (FRDA) has been cloned and characterized; it has been named Drosophila frataxin homolog (dfh). It is located at 8C/D position on X chromosome and is spread over 1kb, a much smaller genomic region than the human gene. Its genomic organization is simple, with a single intron dividing the coding region into two exons. The predicted encoded product has 190 amino acids, being considered a frataxin-like protein on the basis of the sequence and secondary structure conservation when compared with human frataxin and related proteins from other eukaryotes. The closest match between the Drosophila and the human proteins involved a stretch of 38 amino acids at C-terminus, encoded by dfh exon 2, and exons 4 and 5a of the FRDA gene, respectively. This highly conserved region is very likely to form a functional domain with a beta sheet structure flanked by alpha-helices where the sequence is less conserved. A signal peptide for mitochondrial import has also been predicted in the Drosophila frataxin-like protein, suggesting its mitochondrial localization, as occurs for human frataxin and other frataxin-like proteins described in eukaryotes. The Drosophila gene is expressed throughout the development of this organism, with a peak of expression in 6-12h embryos, and showing a spatial ubiquitous pattern from 4h embryos to the last embryonic stage examined. The isolation of dfh will soon make available specific dfh mutants that help in understanding the pathogenesis of FRDA.

Determination of chloramphenicol residues in shrimps by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A liquid chromatographic method with mass spectrometric detection and identification (LC-MS) is presented for the determination of chloramphenicol (CAP) in shrimp tissues. Homogenized shrimp samples were extracted with phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). Clean-up was carried out on a C(18) SPE cartridge. Chloramphenicol was determined by LC-MS-ESI in negative mode. The column used was a Symmetry Shield with a mixture of acetonitrile-water (25:75) as mobile phase. Shrimp samples were fortified at CAP levels between 0.2 and 50 ng g(-1) with 5D-CAP as internal standard. At these levels, accuracies lay between 101 and 110% and between-day reproducibilities were lower than 7.1%, expressed as the variation coefficient of the mean. Limit of decision (CCalpha) was 0.02 ng g(-1). Limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 0.2 ng g(-1).

[Do physicians' strikes influence the utilization profile of hospital emergency services?]. / Influyen las huelgas de médicos en el perfil de utilización de los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios?

BACKGROUND: To assess the differences in appropriateness of consultations and demographic outline of people attended in a hospital emergency facility (HEP) along the hospital physicians strike period in spring 1995. METHODS: Observational cross-sectional study in Health Area 1 in the province of Badajoz. 8964 patients assisted along the strike period were compared with 8024 attended in the same period of 1994 (no strike). RESULTS: The patients average was 169.13 (SD 27.35) a day in the strike period, during the control period this mean was 151.39 (SD 19.78) patients a day (p < 0.001). Demographic variables of patients were similar in both groups, with similar mean ages and gender proportion in all age and residence site groups. Most of patients went to the HEF self-promoted (70.1% and 65.8%) and without ambulance (92% and 90.8%) in both periods (strike and control). The outcome of medical care was home discharge in 85.35% during the strike period and 83.81% in the control period, with admission rates of 13.1% and 14.15% (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There are no significant differences in the HEF use features completely explained by the physicians strike.

[Quality and characteristics of antibiotics prescriptions in an emergency hospital service]. / Calidad y características de la prescripción de antibióticos en un servicio hospitalario de urgencias.

BACKGROUND: To assess the quality of the prescribing of antibiotics to patients treated at a hospital emergency department (HED). METHODS: Retrospective study of the 8600 patients treated and released from a HED throughout the January-April 1996 period. Those patients for whom antibiotics were prescribed as stated on the release form were included. The parameters employed for assessing the prescribing quality were: illness subject to being treated with antibiotics, proper antibiotic, dosage, proper frequency and length of time over which the antibiotic is to be taken. Each one of these parameters was assigned a mark affording the possibility of quantifying quality on a 0-100 point scale. The assessment of the extent to which proper treatment was prescribed was made based on the recommendations described on four guides to the use of antibiotics. RESULTS: Antibiotics were prescribed to 609 (7.1%) of the patients, basically for treating urinary tract infections (17.7%), the prevention of wound infection (13.1%) and for the treatment of repeated attacks of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (10.3%). The antibiotic most often prescribed was cloxacillin (22.5%), followed by ciprofloxacin (13.4%) and clarithromycin (13.2%). Of all of the patients treated with antibiotics, 10.8% had no illness or any indication subject to being treated with these medications, and 32% of those patients who did indeed meet these requirements were prescribed an unsuitable antibiotic. Pneumonia was the illness for which the best quality of treatment was provided. The average mark for the prescriptions did not total 80 points in any of the guides. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotics are medications frequently prescribed in HED's. Major errors are found to exist with regard to the indication, selection and length of the treatments initiated with these medications, as a result of which it is advisable that sustained educational measures be taken.

[Pseudoatrophic pityriasis versicolor]. / Pitiriasis versicolor pseudoatrófica.

The pseudoatrophic pityriasis versicolor is an atypical form of this disease with cutaneous atrophy provoked by the prolonged application of topical corticosteroids. The term "pseudoatrophic" is indicative of its reversible character.

Application of genomic tools in plant breeding.

Plant breeding has been very successful in developing improved varieties using conventional tools and methodologies. Nowadays, the availability of genomic tools and resources is leading to a new revolution of plant breeding, as they facilitate the study of the genotype and its relationship with the phenotype, in particular for complex traits. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies are allowing the mass sequencing of genomes and transcriptomes, which is producing a vast array of genomic information. The analysis of NGS data by means of bioinformatics developments allows discovering new genes and regulatory sequences and their positions, and makes available large collections of molecular markers. Genome-wide expression studies provide breeders with an understanding of the molecular basis of complex traits. Genomic approaches include TILLING and EcoTILLING, which make possible to screen mutant and germplasm collections for allelic variants in target genes. Re-sequencing of genomes is very useful for the genome-wide discovery of markers amenable for high-throughput genotyping platforms, like SSRs and SNPs, or the construction of high density genetic maps. All these tools and resources facilitate studying the genetic diversity, which is important for germplasm management, enhancement and use. Also, they allow the identification of markers linked to genes and QTLs, using a diversity of techniques like bulked segregant analysis (BSA), fine genetic mapping, or association mapping. These new markers are used for marker assisted selection, including marker assisted backcross selection, 'breeding by design', or new strategies, like genomic selection. In conclusion, advances in genomics are providing breeders with new tools and methodologies that allow a great leap forward in plant breeding, including the 'superdomestication' of crops and the genetic dissection and breeding for complex traits.

Food preferences and dietary intakes of Filipino adolescents in metro Manila, the Philippines.

INTRODUCTION: This study examined differences in food preferences and dietary intake among male and female Filipino adolescents of different nutritional status as measured by body mass index (BMI). METHODS: One hundred and twenty 13-17-year olds from various schools and communities in Metro Manila, The Philippines were selected through quota sampling with BMI, sex and age as criteria. Data on mean dietary intake and food preference were collected using pretested instruments--a 3-day food record and a food preference questionnaire, respectively. Resulting values were analysed using one-way ANOVA, Bonferroni test and Pearson's product-moment and Spearman's correlation using SAS Enterprise Guide version 2. RESULTS: Preference for cereals prepared with added sugar or fat (p=0.21, p=.0240), and low fat meat (p=0.18, p=0.420) were found to be positively correlated with BMI, while preference for fruits that are high in vitamin A (p=-0.18, p=0.430) was negatively correlated with the said variable. Overweight respondents gave lower and significantly different preference scores to donut (p=.02780), banana cue (p=.0489) and mayonnaise (p=.0291). Respondents of different nutritional status also had statistically different intakes of fibre, calcium and phosphorus, corresponding with the positive correlation of fibre (p=0.25231, p=0.0054), calcium (p=0.2529, p=0.0134) and phosphorus (p=0.25887, p=0.0043) intake with BMI. With respect to sex, male respondents gave statistically higher preference for French fries (p=.0370), tofu (p=.0005), garlic (p=.0190) and mussels (p=.0023). Also, males have significantly higher intakes of energy and carbohydrate than female respondents. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that food preferences should be considered in the nutritional care management of malnourished adolescents.