RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is prepared using purified human plasma. IVIG therapy has immunomodulatory effects on autoimmune diseases, including severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, reports of its effects on large cohorts are scarce. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included SLE patients treated with at least one IVIG cycle for SLE complications. Demographic data, indications, cycle numbers, and clinical improvement with IVIG were evaluated. SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) scores were calculated at admission and after IVIG treatment in order to measure clinical improvement. RESULTS: Sixty-three SLE patients treated with IVIG (median age: 29 years; interquartile range 21-36 years; 84.13% female) were included, who received 2 g/kg IVIG for two to five days. Main indications were immune thrombocytopenia, hypogammaglobulinemia, infection during a SLE flare, bicytopenia, and immune hemolytic anemia. Seven patients received more than one IVIG cycle without severe adverse effects. Significant differences were found in SLEDAI-2K scores when the indications were immune thrombocytopenia and hypogammaglobulinemia, with a trend for hemolytic anemia. Patients with concomitant infection, myopathy, and gastrointestinal involvement showed a considerable reduction in their last SLEDAI-2K scores. Fourteen patients died during hospitalization, mainly due to septic shock and active SLE. CONCLUSIONS: IVIG showed adequate tolerance and effectiveness in selected severe SLE manifestations, mainly hematological involvement. It was useful for concomitant infection.
Assuntos
Imunoglobulinas Intravenosas/administração & dosagem , Fatores Imunológicos/administração & dosagem , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/tratamento farmacológico , Adulto , Estudos de Coortes , Feminino , Humanos , Imunoglobulinas Intravenosas/efeitos adversos , Fatores Imunológicos/efeitos adversos , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/complicações , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/fisiopatologia , Masculino , Estudos Retrospectivos , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Resultado do Tratamento , Adulto JovemAssuntos
Proteína C-Reativa/metabolismo , Infecções/diagnóstico , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/complicações , Componente Amiloide P Sérico/metabolismo , Adulto , Biomarcadores/sangue , Feminino , Humanos , Infecções/sangue , Infecções/complicações , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/sangue , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Exacerbação dos Sintomas , Adulto JovemRESUMO
This paper presents some of the effects of cryopreservation of wild Solanum lycopersicum Mill. seeds on the early stages of germination post liquid nitrogen exposure. Percentage of germination, conversion into plantlets and plant fresh mass were evaluated after cryostorage. Levels of chlorophyll pigments (a, b, total), malondialdehyde, other aldehydes, phenolics (cell wall-linked, free, and total) and proteins were determined. Peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities were recorded. Liquid nitrogen exposure increased the percentage of seed germination at 5 days but at 7 days, the conversion into plantlets and the plant fresh mass were not statistically different between non-cryopreserved and cryopreserved samples. Several significant effects of cryopreservation were recorded at the biochemical level at 7 days of germination under controlled conditions. Highly significant effects due to liquid nitrogen exposure were observed in leaves: increased levels of peroxidase enzymatic and specific activities and cell wall-linked phenolics. Very remarkable effects were also recorded in roots: decreased contents of chlorophylls and cell wall-linked phenolics.
Assuntos
Criopreservação , Solanum lycopersicum/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Solanum lycopersicum/metabolismo , Clorofila/análise , Clorofila/metabolismo , Criopreservação/métodos , Germinação , Malondialdeído/análise , Malondialdeído/metabolismo , Peroxidase/análise , Peroxidase/metabolismo , Fenóis/análise , Fenóis/metabolismo , Folhas de Planta/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Folhas de Planta/metabolismo , Proteínas de Plantas/análise , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Raízes de Plantas/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Raízes de Plantas/metabolismo , Brotos de Planta/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Brotos de Planta/metabolismo , Sementes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Sementes/metabolismo , Superóxido Dismutase/análise , Superóxido Dismutase/metabolismoRESUMO
Many plant species grown under in vitro controlled conditions can be used as models for the study of physiological processes. Adult pineapple can display CAM physiology while in vitro it functions as a C3 plant. Ex vitro Ananas comosus has plastic morphology and physiology, both easy to modify from C3 to CAM by changing the environmental conditions. The yield of survival for a rentable propagation protocol of pineapple is closely related with the C3/CAM shift and the associated physiological characteristics. In the present work, ex vitro pineapple plants were divided in two sets and subjected to C3 and CAM-inducing environmental conditions, determined by light intensity and relative humidity, respectively, 40 µmol m(-2) s(-1)/85% and 260 µmol m(-2) s(-1)/50%. The results demonstrated that the stress imposed by the environmental conditions switched pineapple plants from C3 to CAM behavior. Comparing to CAM induced, C3-induced pineapple plants showed substandard growth parameters and morphological leaf characteristics but a better rooting process and a higher ABA production, a phenotype closer to adult plants, which are expected to produce fruits in a normal production cycle. We conclude that the upholding of these characteristics is conditioned by low light intensity plus high relative humidity, especially during the first 8 weeks of ex vitro growth. It is expected that the better understanding of pineapple acclimatization will contribute to the design of a protocol to apply as a rentable tool in the pineapple agronomic industry.
Assuntos
Aclimatação/fisiologia , Ananas/fisiologia , Carbono/metabolismo , Ácido Abscísico/análise , Ácido Abscísico/metabolismo , Irrigação Agrícola , Ananas/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Ananas/efeitos da radiação , Biomassa , Clorofila/metabolismo , Clorofila A , Meio Ambiente , Fluorescência , Umidade , Luz , Malatos/análise , Malatos/metabolismo , Estresse Oxidativo/fisiologia , Fotossíntese/fisiologia , Folhas de Planta/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Folhas de Planta/fisiologia , Folhas de Planta/efeitos da radiação , Temperatura , Ceras/análise , Ceras/metabolismoRESUMO
PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Teosinte species are the closest relatives of maize and represent an important but increasingly rare genetic resource for maize improvement and the study of evolution by domestication. Three morphologically and ecologically distinct teosinte populations were recently discovered in México. The taxonomic status of these rare and endangered populations was investigated by detailed comparisons to previously characterized wild Zea species. ⢠METHODS: Three new teosinte populations were compared to known teosinte taxa on the basis of morphological, ecogeographic, cytological, and molecular characteristics. Phenetic and phylogenetic analyses were performed using morphological and molecular data, respectively. ⢠KEY RESULTS: The newly discovered populations are distinct from each other and from other Zea species to represent three new entities based on their unique combinations of morphological, ecological, ploidy, and DNA markers. A perennial diploid population from Nayarit is distinguished by early maturing plants, and having male inflorescences with few tassel branches and long spikelets. A perennial tetraploid population from Michoacán is characterized by tall and late maturing plants, and having male inflorescences with many branches. An annual diploid population from Oaxaca is characterized by having male inflorescences with fewer branches and longer spikelets than those found in the sister taxa Z. luxurians and Z. nicaraguensis, plants with high thermal requirements, and very long seed dormancy. ⢠CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from multiple independent sources suggests placement of the three new populations of teosinte as distinct entities within section Luxuriantes of the genus Zea. However, more extensive DNA marker or sequence data are required to resolve the taxonomy of this genus.
Assuntos
Zea mays/classificação , Cromossomos de Plantas , Marcadores Genéticos , México , Filogenia , Zea mays/genéticaRESUMO
With the aim of exploring possible reasons for dangerous work practices among small-scale farmers in the Pacific plain of Nicaragua, a qualitative study was performed. Four focus groups were involved. The information gathered was analyzed with an emphasis on the farmers' relationships to and perspectives on their crops, the economy, pests, and pesticide hazards. Factors that had been anticipated, such as poverty, inadequacy of protective devices, and environmental factors, were found to lead to dangerous work practices. Cultural factors also affected the farmers' attitudes in ways that favored hazardous work procedures. This finding, which had not been anticipated, has important practical implications. It suggests that, to be effective, education and training courses on occupational health should assure that their design, language, materials, and execution are culturally relevant and appropriate.