Effects of resource sharing directionality on physiologically integrated clones of the invasive Carpobrotus edulis

资源共享的方向性对入侵植物海榕菜生理整合的影响 与植物克隆生长相关的一个关键性状是生理整合能力,它允许在一个克隆内相连接的分株之间共享资源。资源传输遵循源-汇关系：从生长在资源丰富斑块上的分株到生长在贫瘠斑块上的分株。然而,一些实验结果表明,向顶运输(从后端到前端)通常超过基部运输(从前端到后端)。在本研究中, 我们旨在确定入侵植物海榕菜(Carpobrotus edulis)生理整合模块的资源运输方向。我们开展了两个模拟实 验,研究了在不同位置(后端、中部、前端)的不同营养水平对海榕菜连接和断开克隆系统的影响。比较了分株生物量分配模式和最终生物量,以阐明生理整合的作用是否受资源运输方向性的影响。研究结果表明,海榕菜资源的向顶运输是普遍存在的,其发育分工是后端分株专注于获取土壤资源,前端分株专注于地上生长。虽然在最严酷的生长条件下的前端分株所获得的效益最高,但这种生物量分配模式不受后端或前端分株生长的营养条件的影响。这种发育程序化的分工被认为可以促进海榕菜的横向生长,从而对这种入侵物种的扩展具有重要意义。     

Epigenetic regulation of miR-212 expression in lung cancer

Many studies have shown that microRNA expression in cancer may be regulated by epigenetic events. Recently, we found that in lung cancer miR-212 was strongly down-regulated. However, mechanisms involved in the regulation of miR-212 expression are unknown. Therefore, we addressed this point by investigating the molecular mechanisms of miR-212 silencing in lung cancer. We identified histone modifications rather than DNA hypermethylation as epigenetic events that regulate miR-212 levels in NSCLC. Moreover, we found that miR-212 silencing in vivo is closely associated with the severity of the disease.     

Ilex paraguariensis Attenuates Changes in Mortality,Behavioral and Biochemical Parameters Associated to Methyl Malonate or Malonate Exposure in Drosophila melanogaster

Methylmalonic acidemia is a genetic disease characterized by accumulation of organic acids, such as methylmalonic (MMA) and malonic (MA) acids. Considering that the accumulation of MMA and MA causes several damages due to oxidative stress, antioxidants are thought to play a pivotal role in preventing deleterious effects associated with exposure to such compounds. Ilex paraguariensis (IP) was used here to test the hypothesis that supplementation with the aqueous extract of this plant could exert protective effect against MMA or MA induced mortality, behavioral and/or biochemical changes in Drosophila melanogaster (DM). Initially, a curve time- and dose–response to MMA (1–10 mM), MA (1–10 mM) and IP (63–500 μM) was performed. Thereafter, flies were concomitantly exposed to MA (5 mM), MMA (5 mM) and/or IP (250 μg/mL) during 15 days for survival assay, and for 48 hs to MA (1 or 5 mM), MMA (1 or 5 mM) and/or IP (250 μg/mL) for subsequent investigations. Both MMA and MA exposure resulted in higher incidence of mortality, a worse performance in the negative geotaxis assay and increased locomotion in open-field test as compared with control group. Furthermore, a marked increase in non-protein thiol (NPSH) and in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels, decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, and decrease in MTT and resazurin reduction were noted in MMA or MA treated groups. IP treatment offered significant protection against all alterations associated to MMA or MA exposure. This study confirm the hypothesis that supplementation with IP offers protection against changes associated to MMA or MA exposure in DM, due, at least in part, to its antioxidant effect.

     

Increasing the Use of Skilled Health Personnel Where Traditional Birth Attendants Were Providers of Childbirth Care: A Systematic Review

Background

Improved access to skilled health personnel for childbirth is a priority strategy to improve maternal health. This study investigates interventions to achieve this where traditional birth attendants were providers of childbirth care and asks what has been done and what has worked?

Methods and Findings

We systematically reviewed published and unpublished literature, searching 26 databases and contacting experts to find relevant studies. We included references from all time periods and locations. 132 items from 41 countries met our inclusion criteria and are included in an inventory; six were intervention evaluations of high or moderate quality which we further analysed. Four studies report on interventions to deploy midwives closer to communities: two studies in Indonesia reported an increase in use of skilled health personnel; another Indonesian study showed increased uptake of caesarean sections as midwives per population increased; one study in Bangladesh reported decreased risk of maternal death. Two studies report on interventions to address financial barriers: one in Bangladesh reported an increase in use of skilled health personnel where financial barriers for users were addressed and incentives were given to skilled care providers; another in Peru reported that use of emergency obstetric care increased by subsidies for preventive and maternity care, but not by improved quality of care.

Conclusions

The interventions had positive outcomes for relevant maternal health indicators. However, three of the studies evaluate the village midwife programme in Indonesia, which limits the generalizability of conclusions. Most studies report on a main intervention, despite other activities, such as community mobilization or partnerships with traditional birth attendants. Many authors note that multiple factors including distance, transport, family preferences/support also need to be addressed. Case studies of interventions in the inventory illustrate how different countries attempted to address these complexities. Few high quality studies that measure effectiveness of interventions exist.     

Tratamiento de la hiperglucemia en el hospital. Impresiones y conocimientos del médico residente

Background and objectiveIn many hospitals, adequate glycemic control is not achieved despite implementation of new insulin therapy protocols. Our aim was to assess resident physician’ attitudes toward inpatient hyperglycemia, barriers to achieve optimum control, and impact on them of an insulin training programMaterial and methodsA questionnaire was used to assess understanding and standard management of hyperglycemia before and six months after implementation of an inpatient insulin treatment program.ResultsTwenty-five interns completed the questionnaire. Glycemic control was considered “very important” in all admission situations, but was only considered “very important” in conventional hospitalization by 36% of interns. Most of these felt “comfortable” using sliding scales, but not with the basal/bolus regimen, which was the least commonly used. Perception of number of well-controlled patients and comfort and use of basal/bolus therapy increased at six months, but use of “sliding scales” remained high. The greatest difficulty reported for adequate management of hyperglycemia was the lack of knowledge.ConclusionsMost residents are aware of the importance of adequate glycemic control, but cannot achieve it because of inadequate knowledge. The insulin training program led to an improved perception and applicability of basal-bolus insulin regimens. However, despite all efforts, use of sliding scales remains high. Training programs should emphasize management of hyperglycemia.     

Trypanosome lytic factors: novel mediators of human innate immunity

A novel trypanosome lytic factor (TLF) has been characterized that protects humans from infection by Trypanosoma brucei brucei. The mechanism of trypanolysis is unknown; contrary to one hypothesis, TLF does not kill trypanosomes by generating oxygen radicals. However, these trypanosomes become human-infective when they express a serum-resistance-associated gene.     

Virulence in murine model shows the existence of two distinct populations of Brazilian Vaccinia virus strains

Brazilian Vaccinia virus had been isolated from sentinel mice, rodents and recently from humans, cows and calves during outbreaks on dairy farms in several rural areas in Brazil, leading to high economic and social impact. Some phylogenetic studies have demonstrated the existence of two different populations of Brazilian Vaccinia virus strains circulating in nature, but little is known about their biological characteristics. Therefore, our goal was to study the virulence pattern of seven Brazilian Vaccinia virus strains. Infected BALB/c mice were monitored for morbidity, mortality and viral replication in organs as trachea, lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, brain and spleen. Based on the virulence potential, the Brazilian Vaccinia virus strains were grouped into two groups. One group contained GP1V, VBH, SAV and BAV which caused disease and death in infected mice and the second one included ARAV, GP2V and PSTV which did not cause any clinical signals or death in infected BALB/c mice. The subdivision of Brazilian Vaccinia virus strains into two groups is in agreement with previous genetic studies. Those data reinforce the existence of different populations circulating in Brazil regarding the genetic and virulence characteristics.