Longitudinal evaluation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and periodontal status in HIV\u3csup\u3e+\u3c/sup\u3e patients

The study aim was to determine whether prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) could serve as a risk factor for periodontitis in human immunodeficiency virus-positive (HIV+) patients. Clinical measurements, including gingival index (GI), plaque index, bleeding index, probing depth (PD), attachment loss (AL) and GCF samples were taken from two healthy sites (including sites with gingival recession, GI = 0; PD ≤ 3 mm; AL ≤ 2 mm), three gingivitis sites (GI \u3e 0; PD ≤ 3 mm; AL = 0) and three periodontitis sites (GI \u3e 0; PD ≥ 5 mm; AL ≥ 3 mm) of each of the 30 patients at baseline and 6-month visits. GCF samples were also taken by means of paper strips. GCF PGE2 levels were determined by a sandwich ELISA. The progressing site was defined as a site which had 2 mm or more attachment loss during the 6-month study period. The mean amounts of PGE2 were significantly higher in gingivitis and periodontitis sites than in healthy sites (p \u3c 0.0001). GCF levels of PGE2 were significantly correlated with probing depth, attachment loss, CD4+ cells, viral load, age and smoking pack-years at baseline and 6-month visits (0.0001 \u3c p \u3c 0.05). Repeated measures analysis of 19 active sites versus 221 inactive sites indicated that PGE2 levels were significantly higher in active sites than in inactive sites (p \u3c 0.0001). It is likely that the compromised immune system contributes to the pathogenesis of periodontitis in HIV+ patients. It is well known that the activated inflammatory cells produce inflammatory mediators which stimulate the production of PGE2. Longitudinal evaluation of GCF PGE2 with respect to the progression of untreated periodontitis sites in HIV+ subjects will contribute to the understanding of the pathogenesis of periodontitis in HIV+ patients. These data indicate that sites with high GCF levels of PGE2 in HIV+ patients are at significantly greater risk for progression of periodontitis. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Efeito de reguladores de crescimento sobre os teores de ácido ascórbico e carboidratos solúveis de morango (Fragaria hybridus)

Several growth regulators were sprayed on strawberry plants: SADH (5000 ppm), CCC (2000 ppm), IAA (10 ppm, 3 times), GA 10 ppm, 3 times) and GA (550 ppm), Ascorbic acid, dry weight and soluble carbohydrates contents of fruits were determined. Statistically differences were not observed between treatments and control. Dry weight varied from 7.62 to 9.53%. Ascorbic acid content varied from 35.88 to 71.81 mg/100 g on fresh weight basis. Mean values of soluble carbohydrates, in grams/100 g on fresh weight basis, were total (5.58), sucrose (1.01), glucose (1.63) and frutose (1.54).Foram feitas aplicações dos seguintes reguladores de crescimento em morango (Fragarm hybridus): SADH a 5000 ppm, CCC a 2000 ppm, ATA a 10 ppm (3 aplicações), ácido giberélico a 10 ppm (3 aplicações) e 550 ppm. Análises de peso seco, ácido ascórbico e carboidratos solúveis dos frutos foram efetuadas a fim de se estudar o efeito desses reguladores de crescimento. Não foram detectadas diferenças significativas entre os diversas tratamentos e o controle. O peso seco variou de 7,62 a 9,53%. O conteúdo de ácido ascórbico variou de 35,88 a 71,81 mg/100 g de peso fresco. Os teores médios de carboidratos solúveis, expresso em g/100 g peso fresco, foram: totais (5,58), sacarose (1,01), glucose (1,63) e frutose (1,54)

Longitudinal peak strain detects a smaller risk area than visual assessment of wall motion in acute myocardial infarction

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Opening of an occluded infarct related artery reduces infarct size and improves survival in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In this study we performed tissue Doppler analysis (peak strain, displacement, mitral annular movement (MAM)) and compared with visual assessment for the study of the correlation of measurements of global, regional and segmental function with final infarct size and transmurality. In addition, myocardial risk area was determined and a prediction sought for the development of infarct transmurality ≥50%.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty six patients with STEMI submitted for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were examined with echocardiography on the catheterization table. Four to eight weeks later repeat echocardiography was performed for reassessment of function and magnetic resonance imaging for the determination of final infarct size and transmurality.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>On a global level, wall motion score index (WMSI), ejection fraction (EF), strain, and displacement all showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.001, p ≤ 0.001, p ≤ 0.001 and p = 0.03) between the two study visits, but MAM did not (p = 0.17). On all levels (global, regional and segmental) and both pre- and post PCI, WMSI showed a higher correlation with scar transmurality compared to strain. We found that both strain and WMSI predicted the development of scar transmurality ≥50%, but strain added no significant information to that obtained with WMSI in a logistic regression analysis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In patients with acute STEMI, WMSI, EF, strain, and displacement showed significant changes between the pre- and post PCI exam. In a ROC-analysis, strain had 64% sensitivity at 80% specificity and WMSI around 90% sensitivity at 80% specificity for the detection of scar with transmurality ≥50% at follow-up.</p

Genetic dissection of fruit quality traits in the octoploid cultivated strawberry highlights the role of homoeo-QTL in their control

Fruit quality traits are major breeding targets in the Rosaceae. Several of the major Rosaceae species are current or ancient polyploids. To dissect the inheritance of fruit quality traits in polyploid fleshy fruit species, we used a cultivated strawberry segregating population comprising a 213 full-sibling F1 progeny from a cross between the variety ‘Capitola’ and the genotype ‘CF1116’. We previously developed the most comprehensive strawberry linkage map, which displays seven homoeology groups (HG), including each four homoeology linkage groups (Genetics 179:2045–2060, 2008). The map was used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for 19 fruit traits related to fruit development, texture, colour, anthocyanin, sugar and organic acid contents. Analyses were carried out over two or three successive years on field-grown plants. QTL were detected for all the analysed traits. Because strawberry is an octopolyploid species, QTL controlling a given trait and located at orthologous positions on different homoeologous linkage groups within one HG are considered as homoeo-QTL. We found that, for various traits, about one-fourth of QTL were putative homoeo-QTL and were localised on two linkage groups. Several homoeo-QTL could be detected the same year, suggesting that several copies of the gene underlying the QTL are functional. The detection of some other homoeo-QTL was year-dependent. Therefore, changes in allelic expression could take place in response to environmental changes. We believe that, in strawberry as in other polyploid fruit species, the mechanisms unravelled in the present study may play a crucial role in the variations of fruit quality