Identification of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) chromosomes using BAC-FISH

Passiflora edulis, the yellow passion fruit, is the main crop from the Passiflora genus, which comprises 525 species with its diversity center in South America. Genetic maps and a BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) genomic library are available, but the nine chromosome pairs of similar size and morphology (2n = 18) hamper chromosome identification, leading to different proposed karyotypes. Thus, the aim of this study was to establish chromosome-specific markers for the yellow passion fruit using single-copy and repetitive sequences as probes in fluorescent in situ hybridizations (FISH) to allow chromosome identification and future integration with whole genome data. Thirty-six BAC clones harboring genes and three retrotransposons (Ty1-copy, Ty3-gypsy, and LINE) were selected. Twelve BACs exhibited a dispersed pattern similar to that revealed by retroelements, and one exhibited subtelomeric distribution. Twelve clones showed unique signals in terminal or subterminal regions of the chromosomes, allowing their genes to be anchored to six chromosome pairs that can be identified with single-copy markers. The markers developed herein will provide an important tool for genomic and evolutionary studies in the Passiflora genus.

INFLUÊNCIA DAS CONDIÇÕES HÍDRICAS DO SOLO E DA TEMPERATURA NA SOBREVIVÊNCIA E ALIMENTAÇÃO DE ONCOMETOPIA FACIALIS (HEMIPTERA: CICADELLIDAE) EM "SEEDLINGS" DE CITROS/

RESUMO O comportamento alimentar de cigarrinhas vetoras de Xylella fastidiosa, agente causal da clorose variegada dos citros, pode influenciar sua eficiência de transmissão. Avaliou-se a influência das condições hídricas do solo e da temperatura ambiente na sobrevivência e alimentação do vetor Oncometopia facialis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) em "seedlings" de laranjeira doce (Citrus sinensis).O estudo foi realizado em câmara de crescimento, simulando-se condições de temperatura média e de fotofase de verão (24º C e 13h) e de inverno (19º C e 11h) da região Central do Estado de São Paulo. As plantas foram submetidas a dois regimes hídricos: capacidade de campo e déficit hídrico. A sobrevivência de O. facialis foi menor quando mantida em "seedlings" sob déficit hídrico, independentemente das condições de temperatura ("verão" ou "inverno"). A taxa de ingestão de seiva, medida indiretamente pela excreção de "honeydew", foi maior nos tratamentos mantidos em capacidade de campo para as duas condições de temperatura. Comprovou-se, então, que o déficit hídrico do solo reduz a sobrevivência e a taxa de alimentação de O. facialis em "seedlings" de citros. Os resultados sugerem uma menor adequação da planta cítrica às cigarrinhas durante épocas mais secas do ano.

Use of propranolol in heart failure patients: safety, tolerability, and effects on left ventricular function

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Beta-blockers have been shown to improve prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF). Propranolol, which is a low-cost drug, has not been fully studied in this setting. We sought to determine the safety, tolerability and effects on left ventricular function observed with the use of propranolol in HF patients, in functional class II-IV of the New York Heart Association.

POPULATION AND METHODS

Prospective study in which 20 outpatients (10 male, mean age 56 +/- 12 years, ranging from 20 to 70) were included. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) was 28%. Safety, tolerability and effects on electrocardiographic and echocardiographic variables were analyzed. Patients were evaluated in three steps: a) Step I--optimization on conventional drugs and assessment of baseline parameters; b) Step II--start of propranolol (10-20 mg/day), increasing the dose weekly to achieve a heart rate of 60 bpm, or a maximum daily dose of 120 mg; c) Step III--reappraisal of the parameters analyzed in step I, after 3 months of propranolol treatment.

RESULTS

On average, after treatment with propranolol, EF increased by 52% (p = 0.0003), E wave deceleration time was prolonged by 62% (p = 0.001) and effective ventricular filling time increased by 38.5% (p = 0.0005). Two patients developed mild congestion which was controlled by increasing diuretic doses, with no need to interrupt the protocol. Four patients had bradycardia-related symptoms, controlled by reducing digoxin doses. Nine subjects developed hyperkalemia, reversed by interrupting or reducing spironolactone.

CONCLUSION

Propranolol was safe and well tolerated, and had beneficial effects on ventricular function in HF patients. Its impact on mortality requires further study.

Samarium-153 for intravascular irradiation therapy with liquid-filled balloons to prevent restenosis: acute and long-term results in a hypercholesterolemic rabbit restenosis model

BACKGROUND

It has been shown that irradiation with either beta and gamma sources inhibit neointimal formation. Samarium-153 ((153)Sm) is an isotope with 0.8 MeV, subdivided in three different beta energies and 103 keV of gamma energy. This compound has been tested and used in humans for palliation of pain from bone metastases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of brachytherapy with (153)Sm-filled balloon to inhibit neointimal formation in rabbits after balloon overstretch injury.

METHODS

Nineteen rabbits underwent balloon injury in their iliac arteries. In 12 animals (control), oversized balloons filled with saline solution were inflated up to 5 atm for a period of 5 min. In 7 rabbits, the same procedure was performed but using balloons filled with (153)Sm. In all cases, both iliac arteries were treated. The prescribed radiation dose was 15 Gy at 1 mm depth. After 30 days, the animals were sacrificed and their arterial segments were analyzed. Radiation exposure at the animal chest to the table and at a distance of 1 m from the table was measured.

RESULTS

Histopathologic analysis showed a striking reduction in the amount of neointima in the irradiated arteries compared with control vessels (0.36+/-0.21 vs. 1.07+/-0.56 mm(2), P<.01). The dose delivered to the animal chest was 21.5 mR/h, whereas only 1.9 mR/h was measured at the table and virtually no radiation could be detected at a distance of 1 m from the table.

CONCLUSIONS

Brachytherapy with (153)Sm was feasible with minimal personnel exposure radiation and effectively inhibited neointimal formation in this experimental model. These results warrant further experimental and clinical investigations.

Temporal hemodynamic effects of permissive hypercapnia associated with ideal PEEP in ARDS

The associated use of permissive hypercapnia (PHY) and high PEEP levels (PEEP(IDEAL)) has been recently indicated as part of a lung-protective-approach (LPA) in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, the net hemodynamic effect produced by this association is not known. We analyzed the temporal hemodynamic effects of this combined strategy in 48 patients (mean age 34 +/- 13 yr) with ARDS, focusing on its immediate (after 1 h), early (first 36 h), and late (2nd-7th d) consequences. Twenty-five patients were submitted to LPA--with the combined use of permissive hypercapnia (PHY), VT < 6 ml/kg, distending pressures above PEEP < 20 cm H2O, and PEEP 2 cm H2O above the lower inflection point on the static inspiratory P-V curve (P(FLEX))- and 23 control patients were submitted to conventional mechanical ventilation. LPA was initiated at once, resulting in an immediate increase in heart rate (p = 0.0002), cardiac output (p = 0.0002), oxygen delivery (DO2l, p = 0.0003), and mixed venous Po2 (p = 0.0006), with a maintained systemic oxygen consumption (p = 0.52). The mean pulmonary arterial pressure markedly increased (mean increment 8.8 mm Hg; p < 0.0001), but the pulmonary vascular resistance did not change (p = 0.32). Cardiac filling pressures increased (p < 0.001) and the systemic vascular resistance fell (p = 0.003). All these alterations were progressively attenuated in the course of the first 36 h, despite persisting hypercapnia. Plasma lactate suffered a progressive decrement along the early period in LPA but not in control patients (p < 0.0001). No hemodynamic consequences of LPA were noticed in the late period and renal function was preserved. A multivariate analysis suggested that these acute hyperdynamic effects were related to respiratory acidosis, with no depressant effects ascribed to high PEEP levels. In contrast, high plateau pressures were associated with cardiovascular depression. Thus, as long as sufficiently low distending pressures are concomitantly applied, the sudden installation of PHY plus PEEP(IDEAL) induces a transitory hyperdynamic state and pulmonary hypertension without harmful consequences to this young ARDS population.