RESUMO
Isoprenoid compounds synthesised in the plastids are involved in plant response to water deficit. The functionality of the biosynthetic pathway of these compounds under drought stress has been analysed at the physiological and molecular levels in two related species of tomato (Solanum chilense and Solanum lycopersicum) that differ in their tolerance to abiotic challenge. Expression analysis of the genes encoding enzymes of these pathways (DXS, IPI, GGPPS, PSY1, NCED and HPT1) in plants at different RWC values shows significant differences for only GGPPS and HPT1, with higher expression in the tolerant S. chilense. Chlorophyll, carotenoids, α-tocopherol and ABA content was also determined in both species under different drought conditions. In agreement with HPT1 transcriptional activity, higher α-tocopherol content was observed in S. chilense than in S. lycopersicum, which correlates with a lower degree of lipoperoxidation in the former species. These results suggest that, in addition to lower stomatal conductance, α-tocopherol biosynthesis is part of the adaptation mechanisms of S. chilense to adverse environmental conditions.
Assuntos
Desidratação/fisiopatologia , Plastídeos/metabolismo , Solanum lycopersicum/genética , Solanum lycopersicum/metabolismo , alfa-Tocoferol/metabolismo , Ácido Abscísico/biossíntese , Adaptação Fisiológica , Carotenoides/biossíntese , Chile , Clorofila/biossíntese , Secas , Regulação da Expressão Gênica de Plantas , Genes de Plantas , Peroxidação de Lipídeos , Solanum lycopersicum/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Estômatos de Plantas/fisiologia , Plastídeos/genética , Solanum/genética , Solanum/metabolismo , Terpenos/metabolismo , Transcrição GênicaRESUMO
AIM: To study the frequency of depression in elderly patients admitted to the Internal Medicine Service of an Institutional Hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients over 65 years old admitted to the Internal Medicine Service of the Military Hospital at Santiago. Chile were assessed using the CDS-20 depression questionnaire and the FROMAGE score for dementia. RESULTS: One hundred twenty seven patients (71 female), were assessed. According to the FROMAGE score, 30% had moderate and 35% had severe dementia. Ten percent of males and 12% of females were depressive. Moderately demented patients, females, subjects with low educational levels and those living alone had a higher frequency of depression. According to DSM-III the most frequent diagnosis among depressive patients was "adjustment disorder with depressive mood". Attending physicians made the diagnosis in only 11% of patients with depression. CONCLUSIONS: Depression is frequent among hospitalized elders.
Assuntos
Depressão/epidemiologia , Pacientes Internados/psicologia , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais/psicologia , Depressão/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Prevalência , Fatores SocioeconômicosRESUMO
AIM: to validate an easy and simple test to measure cognitive function: the clock drawing test. STUDY DESIGN: 138 hospitalized and free living elders (96 female, mean age 77.9 years) were studied. They were requested to draw a clock, using standardized instructions. The drawings were independently analyzed and scored by the authors. The Mini Mental State test was used as reference and the scores of both tests were correlated. RESULTS: there was a correlation of 0.73 between the scores of the clock drawing and Mini Mental State tests. Using a score of 7 points in tye clock drawing and 26 points in the Mini Mental State test as cut of points for the diagnosis of dementia, the former's sensitivity and specificity was 0.82 and 0.71 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: the clock drawing test appears as a simple and effective test for the initial assessment of cognitive functions in patients with suspected dementia.
Assuntos
Demência/diagnóstico , Testes de Inteligência , Idoso , Cognição/fisiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Sensibilidade e EspecificidadeRESUMO
Sprague-Dawley rats were inoculated with Streptococcus mutans (serotype g) and the effect of different concentrations (20, 40 and 56%) of sucrose in the diet on the establishment of this strain into the oral cavity of rats was studied. The Streptococcus mutans was well established in all the experimental groups and we found an almost linear correlation between the sucrose concentration and the severity of dental caries. Another factor that played an important role on the establishment of Streptococcus mutans into the mouth of rats was the inoculum size used. In this work a concentration of 4 x 10(10) showed a consistent establishment onto the teeth of this animal model.