Mineral and Fatty Acid Content Variation in White Oat Genotypes Grown in Brazil

A healthy diet is directly associated with a nutrient-rich and toxic contaminant poor intake. A diet poor in diversity can lead to micronutrient deficiency. The intake of functional foods can provide benefits in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Oats are a functional food; are a source of soluble fiber, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols; and are low in carbohydrate content. Thus, in this study, we characterize mineral accumulation, fatty acid composition, and the absence of contaminants in oat genotypes to evaluate the potential of this cereal as food to minimize the effects of micronutrient deficiency. Most of the oat genotypes showed higher mineral levels than other cereals such as wheat, rice, and maize. FAEM 5 Chiarasul, Barbarasul, UPFA Ouro, URS Altiva, URS Brava, and URS Taura showed higher iron concentration while URS Brava showed the highest zinc concentration. The oat genotypes did not show significant arsenic, strontium, and cadmium accumulation. Considering the accumulation of trace elements in the grain, little genetic diversity among the analyzed oat accessions was detected, dividing into two groups. Regarding fatty acid composition, IPR Afrodite, FAEM 4 Carlasul, FAEM 5 Chiarasul, URS Taura, Barbarasul, and URS 21 showed higher essential fatty acid concentrations. These genotypes can be used in crosses with URS Brava, which displayed a higher Fe and Zn accumulation and is genetically distant from the other cultivars. Oat is a functional food showing ability for the accumulation of minerals and also essential fatty acids.

Bionomy of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) on Decomposing Swine Carcass in an Urban Area of Central Amazon

Biological data on development of Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) is useful to calculate the postmortem interval (PMI), thus being important for solving crimes. We aimed at gathering bionomic information on H. illucens, during the decomposition of a Sus scrofa, in the urban zone of Manaus, Amazonas State. Mature females and eggs were collected on the swine carcass. After hatching under natural conditions, larvae were observed daily. Different instars were fixed in ethylic alcohol to determine instar duration by the evaluation of the frequency distribution of cephalic capsule measurements and the principal components analysis (PCA). Females laid 620-700 eggs per posture in concealed locations preferentially, such as cranial cavities and slots on the metal cage. The larvae were found under the swine skin and on bones. After feeding, the larvae of H. illucens began to move slowly to pupate, did not seek for drier sites to do it, and buried themselves into the carcass instead. Pupae were observed as of the 60th day after death. H. illucens completed its life cycle in 53-82 d, which encompassed six larval instars and the pupa. About 93% of the eggs hatched, 11% reached the adult stage and the sex ratio was 0.49. Our results are complementary to the biological information of this species in Central Amazon, since most of the data were not known yet. This should render PMI calculation more accurate, even for corpses in advanced decomposition stages, as H. illucens spends relatively more time on the carcasses than most dipterans.

Fresh and Dry Mass Estimates of Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Larvae Associated with Swine Decomposition in Urban Area of Central Amazonia

Information on biomass is substantial for calculating growth rates and may be employed in the medicolegal and economic importance of Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758). Although biomass is essential to understanding many ecological processes, it is not easily measured. Biomass may be determined by directly weighing or indirectly through regression models of fresh/dry mass versus body dimensions. In this study, we evaluated the association between morphometry and fresh/dry mass of immature H. illucens using linear, exponential, and power regression models. We measured width and length of the cephalic capsule, overall body length, and width of the largest abdominal segment of 280 larvae. Overall body length and width of the largest abdominal segment were the best predictors for biomass. Exponential models best fitted body dimensions and biomass (both fresh and dry), followed by power and linear models. In all models, fresh and dry biomass were strongly correlated (>75%). Values estimated by the models did not differ from observed ones, and prediction power varied from 27 to 79%. Accordingly, the correspondence between biomass and body dimensions should facilitate and motivate the development of applied studies involving H. illucens in the Amazon region.

Secretion of the acid trehalase encoded by the CgATH1 gene allows trehalose fermentation by Candida glabrata

The emergent pathogen Candida glabrata differs from other yeasts because it assimilates only two sugars, glucose and the disaccharide trehalose. Since rapid identification tests are based on the ability of this yeast to rapidly hydrolyze trehalose, in this work a biochemical and molecular characterization of trehalose catabolism by this yeast was performed. Our results show that C. glabrata consumes and ferments trehalose, with parameters similar to those observed during glucose fermentation. The presence of glucose in the medium during exponential growth on trehalose revealed extracellular hydrolysis of the sugar by a cell surface acid trehalase with a pH optimum of 4.4. Approximately ∼30% of the total enzymatic activity is secreted into the medium during growth on trehalose or glycerol. The secreted enzyme shows an apparent molecular mass of 275 kDa in its native form, but denaturant gel electrophoresis revealed a protein with ∼130 kDa, which due to its migration pattern and strong binding to concanavalin A, indicates that it is probably a dimeric glycoprotein. The secreted acid trehalase shows high affinity and activity for trehalose, with Km and Vmax values of 3.4 mM and 80 U (mg protein)(-1), respectively. Cloning of the CgATH1 gene (CAGLOK05137g) from de C. glabrata genome, a gene showing high homology to fungal acid trehalases, allowed trehalose fermentation after heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Distribution and hydrolytic enzyme characteristics of Candida albicans strains isolated from diabetic patients and their non-diabetic consorts

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to investigate the oral colonization profile of Candida albicans strains isolated from diabetic patients and their non-diabetic consorts. In addition hydrolytic enzyme activity of these isolates was analysed.

METHODS

The genetic diversity of C. albicans oral isolates from 52 couples was established using isoenzyme marker and cluster analysis. Hydrolytic enzyme characteristics, namely secreted aspartyl proteinases (SAPs) and phospholipases (PLs) were also analysed.

RESULTS

Simultaneous colonization by C. albicans was observed in the consorts of 12 couples (23.1%). Patterns of monoclonal and polyclonal oral colonization by C. albicans strains were identified and the coexistence of identical or highly related strains was observed in both members of eight couples. The genetic diversity observed in the total yeast population revealed four large, genetically distinct groups (A to D) and the coexistence of strains in couples or consorts conjugally unrelated. SAP and PL activity was observed in the majority of C. albicans isolates without any association to particular strain, strain clusters (highly related isolates), or clinical characteristics of the consorts (diabetic, non-diabetic, and gender).

CONCLUSION

Possible sources of transmission and oral propagation of groups (clusters) of strains of C. albicans can occur between diabetic and non-diabetic consorts. A conjugal genotypic identity exists in most C. albicans-positive couples, that is, both consorts share identical or highly related strains; however, this identity is not couple-specific as seen by the coexistence of clusters in couples and unrelated consorts.

Inheritance of foreign genes in transgenic bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) co-transformed via particle bombardment

Exploiting the biolistic process we have generated stable transgenic bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants with unlinked and linked foreign genes. Co-transformation was conducted using plasmid constructions containing a fusion of the gus and neo genes, which were co-introduced with the methionine-rich 2S albumin gene isolated from the Brazil nut and the antisense sequence of AC1, AC2, AC3 and BC1 genes from the bean golden mosaic geminivirus. The results revealed a co-transformation frequency ranging from 40% to 50% when using unlinked genes and 100% for linked genes. The introduced foreign genes were inherited in a Mendelian fashion in most of the transgenic bean lines. PCR and Southern blot hybridization confirmed the integration of the foreign genes in the plant genome.

[Antihypertensive effect of urapidil in mild to moderate arterial hypertension. Randomized, double-blind versus placebo study]

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of urapidil (a new central and peripheral antihypertensive agent) in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

METHODS

Thirty-one patients were randomized, double-blindly, to receive either placebo (15 patients) or urapidil (16 patients) for 3 months. The initial dose of urapidil was 30mg twice daily, per oral. The dose was increased progressively till achievement of good blood pressure control or the dose of 60mg three times a day.

RESULTS

Seventy percent of the patients on urapidil group responded to therapy against 30% on the placebo group. There were 3 cases of hypertensive crises (2 on urapidil and 1 on placebo) on the early therapy. The adverse events with urapidil were unfrequent and the most common were headache and dizziness. There were no modification on blood sugar and lipids level.

CONCLUSION

Urapidil appears to be a safe antihypertensive agent in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension. It also did not demonstrate any clinical effect on the carbohydrates and lipids profile.

[Blood pressure variability and left ventricular hypertrophy in arterial hypertension]

PURPOSE

To evaluate the left ventricular hypertrophy correlation with blood pressure variability during day and night time as well as throughout the 24h period.

METHODS

Fifteen patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension underwent to bi-dimensional echocardiographic study and to 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitorization. Left ventricular mass was calculated according to previous validated formulas. The standard deviation of the mean blood pressures during day-time, night-time and 24h period was taken as blood pressure variability indices. The mean age of the group was 42 years old; 9 patients were male and all were white.

RESULTS

This study showed that only the systolic and diastolic blood pressure variability during the 24h period correlated significantly with left ventricular mass, (r = 0.53 and p < 0.05; r = 0.58 and p < 0.05 respectively). There was no significant correlation of the day-time and night-time pressures variability with left ventricular mass.

CONCLUSION

The systolic and diastolic blood pressure variability during the 24h period may be one of the many determinants of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with mild to moderate hypertension.

Callus production from leaf protoplasts of various cultivars of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

High yields of viable protoplasts were obtained by enzymatic treatment from cotyledonary leaves of various greenhouse grown Phaseolus vulgaris L. cultivars. The protoplasts divided and formed cell clusters in a liquid medium. Early transfer before 10 days in the same medium was necessary for the development of cell colonies. When transferred to solid medium, the colonies gave rise to proliferating green calli. Deep green patches developed on these calli but failed to form shoots.