Famine Foods of Brazil’s Seasonal Dry Forests: Ethnobotanical and Nutritional Aspects

Famine Foods of Brazil’s Seasonal Dry Forests: Ethnobotanical and Nutritional Aspects. Famine foods are used by people in times of food scarcity. Although the northeast of Brazil regularly faces periods of drought that cause a shortage of traditional foods, the use of famine foods is insufficiently recorded. The purpose of this study was to record the knowledge of famine food in two rural Caatinga communities, Carão and Cachoeira, in the states of Pernambuco and Paraiba, respectively, and to determine the chemical composition of the major famine foods utilized. The ethnobotanical aspect was divided into two stages: free lists and semistructured interviews. Based on the interviews, the main famine foods known by communities were selected for nutritional analysis. The study revealed that certain foods are used by communities only in times of shortages. Carão showed a higher species richness than Cachoeira, but the food knowledge was more widespread among the interviewees in Cachoeira. In Carão, the main species mentioned were Dioclea grandiflora and Manihot dichotoma, whereas in Cachoeira, Encholirium spectabile and Pilosocereus gounellei were the major species indicated. The species examined had a high carbohydrate content, especially D. grandiflora, Manihot glaziovii, and M. dichotoma, and could be used for complementary feeding of the population if adverse effects could be minimized. Mandevilla tenuiflora is indicated for future studies of potential agro-industrial applications and the beneficial aspects of its root, which could represent an alternative source of income for the population.     

Limosilactobacillus fermentum,Current Evidence on the Antioxidant Properties and Opportunities to be Exploited as a Probiotic Microorganism

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - The unbalance in the production and removal of oxygen-reactive species in the human organism leads to oxidative stress, a physiological condition commonly...     

The Impact of Isolated Baseline Cannabis Use on Outcomes Following Thoracolumbar Spinal Fusion: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

BackgroundThere is limited literature evaluating the impact of isolated cannabis use on outcomes for patients following spinal surgery. This study sought to compare 90-day complication, 90-day readmission, as well as 2-year revision rates between baseline cannabis users and non-users following thoracolumbar spinal fusion (TLF) for adult spinal deformity (ASD).MethodsThe New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) database was queried between January 2009 and September 2013 to identify all patients who underwent TLF for ASD. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years and either minimum 90-day (for complications and readmissions) or 2-year (for revisions) follow-up surveillance. Cohorts were created and propensity score-matched based on presence or absence of isolated baseline cannabis use. Baseline demographics, hospital-related parameters, 90-day complications and readmissions, and two-year revisions were retrieved. Multivariate binary stepwise logistic regression identified independent outcome predictors.Results704 patients were identified (n=352 each), with comparable age, sex, race, primary insurance, Charlson/Deyo scores, surgical approach, and levels fused between cohorts (all, p>0.05). Cannabis users (versus non-users) incurred lower 90-day overall and medical complication rates (2.4% vs. 4.8%, p=0.013; 2.0% vs. 4.1%, p=0.018). Cohorts had otherwise comparable complication, revision, and readmission rates (p>0.05). Baseline cannabis use was associated with a lower risk of 90-day medical complications (OR=0.47, p=0.005). Isolated baseline cannabis use was not associated with 90-day surgical complications and readmissions, or two-year revisions.ConclusionIsolated baseline cannabis use, in the absence of any other diagnosed substance abuse disorders, was not associated with increased odds of 90-day surgical complications or readmissions or two-year revisions, though its use was associated with reduced odds of 90-day medical complications when compared to non-users undergoing TLF for ASD. Further investigations are warranted to identify the physiologic mechanisms underlying these findings. Level of Evidence: III     

Floral developmental morphology of three Indigofera species (Leguminosae) and its systematic significance within Papilionoideae

Inflorescence and floral development of three species of Indigofera (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae), I. lespedezioides, I. spicata, and I. suffruticosa, were investigated and compared with that of other papilionoid groups, especially with members of the recently circumscribed Millettioid clade, which was merged as sister to Indigofereae in a recent cladistic analysis. Although Indigofera is a genus of special interest, because of its great richness in species and its economic importance, few studies have been made of floral development in the genus or in Indigofereae as a whole. Flower buds and inflorescences were analysed at several stages of development in the three species. Our results confirmed that Indigofera species bear a usual inflorescence type among legumes, the raceme, which comprises flowers initiated in acropetal succession, each with a subtending bract and no bracteoles initiated. The inception of the floral organs is as follows: sepals (5), petals (5), carpel (1), outer stamens (5), and, finally, inner stamens (5). Organ initiation in the sepal, petal, and both stamen whorls is unidirectional, from the abaxial side; the carpel cleft is adaxial. The vexillum is larger than other petals at maturity, covering the keels, which are fused edge-to-edge. Nine filaments are fused to form an adaxially open sheath, and the adaxial stamen of the inner whorl remains free (diadelphous androecium) in the mid-stage of development. Most of the infra-generic differences occurred in the later stages of development. Data on floral development in Indigofera obtained here were also compared with those from other members of Papilionoideae. This comparison showed that the early expression of zygomorphy is shared with other members of the Millettioid clade but is rarely found in other papilionoids, corresponding to a hypothetically morphological synapomorphy in the pair Indigoferae plus millettioids.     

Post mortem time and season alter subpopulation characteristics of Iberian red deer epididymal sperm

We have studied the effect of post mortem time and season on sperm subpopulation pattern and characteristics. We used epididymal samples from free-ranging Iberian red deers harvested during the hunting season. We studied samples at different moments of the year (rut, transition period and post-rut), and at different times post mortem (up to 4 days). Sperm were extracted from the cauda epididymis and their motility was evaluated by means of a CASA system. A principal component and clustering analysis were carried out to identify subpopulations. Post mortem time caused a significant decrease in motility quality, and a general deterioration in subpopulation characteristics. We found three subpopulations the first day, and the one indicating good sperm quality decreased with post mortem time until it disappeared on the fourth day. This may indicate considerable impairment of the samples after 72 h post mortem, which could compromise their use in AI programs. With regard to season, subpopulation pattern and characteristics were better in the transition and post-rut periods. Moreover, we found one subpopulation formed by mature spermatozoa, which increased from rut to post-rut. This might be a negative fact, because samples collected after the rut may undergo hypermaturation, which possibly impairs fertility. Our results are of interest for the management of wildlife germplasm banks based on post mortem sperm recovery.     

Biochemical Aspects of the Soybean Response to Herbivory Injury by the Brown Stink Bug Euschistus heros (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Plant defense response is an elaborate biochemical process shown to depend on the plant genetic background and on the biological stressor. This work evaluated the soybean biochemical foliar response to brown stink bug herbivory injury through an analysis of redox metabolism and proteomic 2DE profiles of susceptible (BRS Silvania RR) and resistant (IAC-100) varieties. The activity of lipoxygenase-3, guaiacol peroxidase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase was monitored every 24 h up to 96 h. In the susceptible variety, injury caused an increase in the activities of lipoxygenase 3 and guaiacol peroxidase, no change in ascorbate peroxidase, and a decrease in catalase. In the resistant variety, injury did not cause an alteration of any of these enzymes. The proteomic profiles were evaluated after 24 h of injury and revealed to have a similar proportion (4–5%) of differential protein expression in both varieties. The differential proteins, identified by mass spectrometry, in the susceptible variety were related to general stress responses, to plant defense, and to fungal infections. However, in the resistant variety, the identified change in protein profile was related to Calvin cycle enzymes. While the susceptible variety showed adaptive changes in redox metabolism and expression of stress-responsive proteins, the resistant showed a defense response to circumvent the biological stressor.     

Threatened freshwater pearl mussel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Margaritifera margaritifera</Emphasis> L. in NW Spain: low and very structured genetic variation in southern peripheral populations assessed using microsatellite markers

A genetic analysis of freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera populations from NW Spain, a peripheral area of its European distribution, was carried out using microsatellite markers. These populations were formerly reported as genetically differentiated on the basis of growth and longevity studies. Ten loci previously characterized in populations from central Europe were used to comparatively analyze the genetic variability at the southern edge of the species’ range. Iberian pearl mussel populations showed very low genetic variability and significant high genetic differentiation. Half of the total genetic diversity observed appeared to be distributed between populations, which suggested a highly structured adaptive potential in pearl mussel at the southern peripheral distribution of the species. Population distinctiveness was evidenced by assignment tests, which revealed a high accuracy of individual assignments to their population of origin. All data suggested low effective population size and major effects of genetic drift on population genetic structure. In order to avoid further loss of genetic variation in biologically distinctive populations from NW Spain, prioritization of genetic resources of this species is required for conservation and management.     

New mutation in the myocilin gene segregates with juvenile-onset open-angle glaucoma in a Brazilian family

Mutations in the myocilin gene (MYOC) account for most cases of autosomal dominant juvenile-onset open-angle glaucoma (JOAG), an earlier and more severe form of POAG. We accessed seven members of a Brazilian JOAG family by clinical and molecular investigation. Four out of seven family members were diagnosed with JOAG. All of these patients presented high intraocular pressure and two of them were bilaterally blind. The disease onset varied from 20 to 30 years old. There was a nine-year-old family member who had not yet manifested the disease, although he was also a carrier of the mutation. Ophthalmologic examination included: evaluation of the visual field and optic disc, intraocular pressure measurement, and gonioscopy. The three exons and intron/exon junctions of the MYOC gene were screened for mutations through direct sequencing of PCR-amplified DNA fragments. Mutation screening revealed an in-frame mutation in the third exon of the MYOC gene: an insertion of six nucleotides between the cDNA positions 1187 and 1188 (c.1187_1188insCCCAGA, p.D395_E396insDP). This mutation presented an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, segregating with the disease in four family members for three generations, and it was absent in 60 normal controls. We also performed a computational structure modeling of olfactomedin-like domain of myocilin protein and conducted in silico analysis to predict the structural changes in the myocilin protein due to the presence of the mutation. These findings may be important for future diagnosis of other presymptomatic family members, as well as for the increase of the panel of MYOC mutations and their effects on phenotype.     

The relationship between ram sperm head morphometry and fertility depends on the procedures of acquisition and analysis used

Sperm head morphometry is a parameter in the evaluation of semen that has been associated with fertility in two ways: comparing morphometric measures between predefined groups of fertility; or analyzing morphometric data by multivariate techniques to identify cell populations. We analyzed the morphometry of ram sperm head by three procedures and checked its relationship with male fertility. A Computer-Aided Sperm Morphometric Assessment procedure (CASMA), an image analysis software (NIS-Elements) in combination with an optical microscope (MO-NIS) and this image analysis software in combination with a scanning electron microscope (SEM-NIS) were used. Eight morphometric parameters were assessed: length, width, area, perimeter, ellipticity, form factor, elongation and regularity. We observed significant differences between the morphometric data of sperm head obtained with three study procedures. The CASMA procedure shows the highest values for all parameters and the SEM-NIS procedure the lowest. The analysis of a semen sample, when only the mean of morphometric parameters is used to describe the cell population, is too limited to interpret their fertilizing capacity. It is essential to analyze the complex structure of the samples by defining subpopulations by multivariate methods. With few exceptions, the means of each morphometric parameter differ between the three subpopulations analyzed in each procedure. Only the subpopulations obtained with the MO-NIS procedure showed a significant correlation with male fertility. In short, it is necessary to establish an instrumental standard for the analysis of sperm morphometry to obtain reliable results and we believe that the MO-NIS system presents these basic requirements.     

Nutrient diffusion and simple nth-order consumption in regenerative tissue and biocatalytic sensors

This contribution addresses intra-tissue molar density profiles for nutrients, oxygen, growth factors, and other essential ingredients that anchorage-dependent cells require for successful proliferation on biocompatible surfaces. One-dimensional transient and steady state models of the reaction-diffusion equation are solved to correct a few deficiencies in the first illustrative example of diffusion and zeroth-order rates of consumption in tissues with rectangular geometry, as discussed in Ref. [(Griffith and Swartz, 2006) 1]. The functional form of the molar density profile for each species depends on geometry and the magnitude of the species-specific intra-tissue Damk?hler number. The tissue's central core is reactant starved at high consumption rates and low rates of intra-tissue diffusion when the Damk?hler number exceeds its geometry-sensitive critical value. Ideal tissue engineering designs avoid the diffusion-limited regime such that attached cells are exposed to all of the ingredients required for proliferation everywhere within a regenerative matrix. Analytical and numerical molar density profiles that satisfy the unsteady state modified diffusion equation with pseudo-homogeneous n(th)-order rates of intra-tissue consumption (i.e., n=0,1,2) allow one to (i) predict von Kármán-Pohlhausen mass transfer boundary layer thicknesses, measured inward from the external biomaterial surface toward its central core, and, most importantly, (ii) estimate the time required to achieve steady state conditions for regenerative tissue growth and biocatalytic sensing.