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The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2015/16 provides concise overviews of the key properties of over 1750 human drug targets with their pharmacology, plus links to an open access knowledgebase of drug targets and their ligands (www.guidetopharmacology.org), which provides more detailed views of target and ligand properties. The full contents can be found at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.13347/full. This compilation of the major pharmacological targets is divided into eight areas of focus: G protein-coupled receptors, ligand-gated ion channels, voltage-gated ion channels, other ion channels, nuclear hormone receptors, catalytic receptors, enzymes and transporters. These are presented with nomenclature guidance and summary information on the best available pharmacological tools, alongside key references and suggestions for further reading. The Concise Guide is published in landscape format in order to facilitate comparison of related targets. It is a condensed version of material contemporary to late 2015, which is presented in greater detail and constantly updated on the website www.guidetopharmacology.org, superseding data presented in the previous Guides to Receptors & Channels and the Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2013/14. It is produced in conjunction with NC-IUPHAR and provides the official IUPHAR classification and nomenclature for human drug targets, where appropriate. It consolidates information previously curated and displayed separately in IUPHAR-DB and GRAC and provides a permanent, citable, point-in-time record that will survive database updates.

Sustainable agricultural practices need to be continuously sought after so that a greater number of producers can adopt them, taking into account, above all, the food security scenario, land use efficiency, and climate change. Intercropping—a cultivation system in which two or more species are grown in close proximity in the same field—is one strategy to increase diversity in the agroecosystem. However, for intercropping systems to be adopted, their productive and economic advantages over monoculture must be clearly demonstrated. Banana (Musa sp.) growers are interested in crop diversification as a potential strategy to increase production yields and, consequently, economic income. The management of banana crops can be facilitated by intercropping, as this system plays an important role in increasing biodiversity and reducing the need for weed control in the crop rows, promoting better land use efficiency. However, this system should be evaluated alongside other indicators. Banana intercropping has significant potential and many benefits, but success depends on the interaction between the component species, appropriate management practices, and favorable environmental conditions. This review aims to provide an overview of recent studies on banana intercropping systems, focusing on the contextualization of land use, monoculture and intercropping, and evaluating intercropping indicators, as well as the benefits, risks, and disadvantages discussed in the literature, and the main outcomes of banana-based intercropping systems. The main findings relate to the possibility of using intercrops with aromatic species and the preliminary reports on the contributions of intercrops to the suppression of Fusarium wilt disease.

Bananas are one of the most consumed fruits in the world and are essential for food security and in the agricultural economy. Their sustainable production is vital for many communities. Herein, the effects of banana cultivars, cropping systems (monocropping and intercropping with lemongrass), and the interaction between these factors on the physicochemical characteristics of ripe and unripe fruit were evaluated. The intercropping of bananas with lemongrass did not alter the main quality indicators of the fruit. The ripe fruits of the SCS451 Catarina cultivar stood out for their higher fruit mass, pulp/peel ratio, and firmness, while the fruits of the Prata Anã and BRS FHIA Maravilha cultivars had the highest SS, SS/TA ratio, pH, and reducing and total sugars. The cultivar SCS451 Catarina had the highest mineral content in the unripe fruit, and for all cultivars, the order of mineral levels was K > N > Mg > P > Ca > Fe > Zn. The higher content of total and resistant starch in the unripe fruit of the Prata Anã and BRS FHIA Maravilha cultivars, combined with the characteristics of the ripe fruit, make them suitable for both fresh consumption and industrial use. Diversifying cultivars improves the quality of banana fruit, and intercropping with lemongrass can be a sustainable method of managing banana fields.

Abstract Brazil is a major producer of bananas, being the world's fourth-largest producer. The fruit is a source of minerals and vitamins and, when green, has a high content of resistant starch. Among the possibilities of processing, green banana flour has gained prominence due to its physical, nutritional, and functional characteristics, which can be used for the making of different food products. However, the raw material and the processing steps can influence these characteristics. Thus, this study aimed to provide information ranging from the choice of raw material to the sensory acceptance of consumers. The present work discussed the influence of ripening on fruit characteristics, processing stages and flour characteristics as a result of the different used fruits part or cultivar/variety of banana, and the possibilities of products with good technological quality and sensory acceptance of products made with green bananas flours by Brazilian consumers. One of the main differences provided by the cultivar is the flour yield, which is higher in banana cultivars with lower moisture content and selected for frying. There is little information regarding the whole green banana flour, which could reduce waste and contribute nutritionally to preparations. New products having green banana flours as an ingredient show wide possibilities for a partial or total replacement to other flours, as well as good sensory acceptance, which has led to a growing interest in banana processing and its growing market.

Abstract The constant need for innovation in the food industries to meet the demands of consumers and the growing market for gluten-free and high-protein products have driven studies of mixed flour. In this study, 'BRS Platina' banana fruits were processed to obtain Whole Green Banana Flour (WGBF) and Green Banana Pulp Flour (GBPF) as well as leaves of Ora-pro-nóbis Flour (OPNF). Mixed flours were prepared by blending banana flours (WGBF or GBPF) with increasing levels of OPNF (from 5 to 25%). Flours were analyzed for physicochemical characteristics, mineral contents, Water Absorption Index (WAI), Water Solubility Index (WSI), and color. The main component of banana flours was starch, in which GBPF has the highest content. The WGBF had a higher mineral content, and in both flours, the potassium was at a greater level. OPNF showed the highest protein and mineral contents. Independent of the type of banana flour, mixed flours were darker, and had higher WAI and considerable increases in Mg, Fe, and Zn than no mixed ones. The blend of banana flours and Ora-pro-nóbis leaf flour can be a viable combination for preparing a variety of food products, due to its nutritional and technological properties.

Background: Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), are characterized by neuronal death involving, among other events, mitochondrial dysfunction and excitotoxicity. Along these lines, several attempts have been made to slow this pathology but none have been yet discovered. Based on its capacity to cross the blood-brain barrier and provide neuronal protection in vitro and in vivo, the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) represents a promising lead molecule. Pharmacological studies showed that PACAP interacts with three different G protein-coupled receptors, i.e. PAC1, VPAC1 and VPAC2. However, only PAC1 is associated with neuronal anti-apoptotic actions, whilst VPAC activation might cause adverse effects. In the context of the development of PAC1-selective agonists, PACAP(1-23) (PACAP23) appears as the shortest known PACAP bioactive fragment., Methods: Hence, the capacity of this peptide to bind PACAP receptors and protect neuroblastoma cells was evaluated under conditions of mitochondrial dysfunction and glutamate excitotoxicity. In addition, its ability to activate downstream signaling events involving G proteins (Gα s and Gα q ), EPAC, and calcium was also assessed., Results: Compared to the endogenous peptide, PACAP23 showed a reduced affinity towards PAC1, although this fragment exerted potent neuroprotection. However, surprisingly, some disparities were observed for PACAP23 signaling compared to full length PACAP, suggesting that downstream signaling related to neuroprotection is distinctly regulated following subtle differences in their PAC1 interactions., Conclusions: Altogether, this study demonstrates the potent neuroprotective action of amidated PACAP23., General Significance: PACAP23 represents an attractive template for development of shorter PACAP-derived neuroprotective molecules., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are responsible for >99% of cervical cancers. Molecular diagnostic tests based on the detection of viral DNA or RNA have low positive predictive values for the identification of cancer or precancerous lesions. Triage with the Papanicolaou test lacks sensitivity; and even when combined with molecular detection of high-risk HPV, this results in a significant number of unnecessary colposcopies. We have developed a broad-range detection test of HPV transcripts to take a snapshot of the transcriptome of 16 high-risk or putative high-risk HPVs in cervical lesions (HPVs 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, 73, and 82). The purpose of this novel molecular assay, named HPV RNA-Seq, is to detect and type HPV-positive samples and to determine a combination of HPV reads at certain specific viral spliced junctions that can better correlate with high-grade cytology, reflecting the presence of precancerous cells. In a proof-of-concept study conducted on 55 patients, starting from cervical smears, we have shown that HPV RNA-Seq can detect papillomaviruses with performances comparable to a widely used HPV reference molecular diagnostic kit; and a combination of the number of sequencing reads at specific early versus late HPV transcripts can be used as a marker of high-grade cytology, with encouraging diagnostic performances as a triage test., (Copyright © 2019 American Society for Investigative Pathology and the Association for Molecular Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is an emerging virus responsible for congenital malformations in the offspring of domestic ruminants. It is speculated that infection of pregnant dams may also lead to a significant number of unrecognized fetal losses during the early period of gestation. To assess the pathogenic effects of SBV infection of goats in early pregnancy, we inoculated dams at day 28 or 42 of gestation and followed the animals until day 55 of gestation. Viremia in the absence of clinical signs was detected in all virus-inoculated goats. Fetal deaths were observed in several goats infected at day 28 or 42 of gestation and were invariably associated with the presence of viral genomic RNA in the affected fetuses. Among the viable fetuses, two displayed lesions in the central nervous system (porencephaly) in the presence of viral genome and antigen. All fetuses from goats infected at day 42 and the majority of fetuses from goats infected at day 28 of gestation contained viral genomic RNA. Viral genome was widely distributed in these fetuses and their respective placentas, and infectious virus could be isolated from several organs and placentomes of the viable fetuses. Our results show that fetuses of pregnant goats are susceptible to vertical SBV infection during early pregnancy spanning at least the period between day 28 and 42 of gestation. The outcomes of experimental SBV infection assessed at day 55 of gestation include fetal mortalities, viable fetuses displaying lesions of the central nervous system, as well as viable fetuses without any detectable lesion., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Study Objective: To determine whether the number of coils visualized in the uterotubal junction at the end of hysteroscopic microinsert placement predicts successful tubal occlusion., Design: Cohort retrospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2)., Setting: Department of obstetrics and gynecology in a teaching hospital., Patients: One hundred fifty-three women underwent tubal microinsert placement for permanent birth control from 2010 through 2014. The local institutional review board approved this study., Intervention: Three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound (3D TVU) was routinely performed 3 months after hysteroscopic microinsert placement to check position in the fallopian tube., Measurements and Main Results: The correlation between the number of coils visible at the uterotubal junction at the end of the hysteroscopic microinsert placement procedure and the device position on the 3-month follow-up 3D TVU in 141 patients was evaluated. The analysis included 276 microinserts placed during hysteroscopy. The median number of coils visible after the hysteroscopic procedure was 4 (interquartile range, 3-5). Devices for 30 patients (21.3%) were incorrectly positioned according to the 3-month follow-up 3D TVU, and hysterosalpingography was recommended. In those patients the median number of coils was in both the right (interquartile range, 2-4) and left (interquartile range, 1-3) uterotubal junctions. The number of coils visible at the uterotubal junction at the end of the placement procedure was the only factor that predicted whether the microinsert was well positioned at the 3-month 3D TVU confirmation (odds ratio, .44; 95% confidence interval, .28-.63). When 5 or more coils were visible, no incorrectly placed microinsert could be seen on the follow-up 3D TVU; the negative predictive value was 100%. No pregnancies were reported., Conclusion: The number of coils observed at the uterotubal junction at the time of microinsert placement should be considered a significant predictive factor of accurate and successful microinsert placement., (Copyright © 2017 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To compare perioperative complications of two surgical methods for digestive endometriosis management: "shaving" and colorectal resection in robotic-assisted laparoscopy., Methods: Twenty-eight women underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopy for digestive endometriosis, confirmed histologically. Six women had a digestive resection and twenty-one women had a shaving procedure. Short-term and long-term results and complications were compared between the two groups., Results: Operative time was significantly shorter (P=0.0002) and estimated blood loss was significantly lower (200 ml vs 560 ml, P=0.04) in the shaving procedure group in comparison with the resection group. We observed one conversion to laparotomy in the resection group and one case of bladder injury in the shaving group. Length of hospital stay was longer (P=0.0001) in the resection group than in the shaving group. At the two-month re-evaluation, there was no significant difference between the two groups for the number of women in full remission for pelvic pain, urinary or gastrointestinal symptoms or dyspareunia. Two women of the resection group reported functional gastrointestinal signs that persisted 24 months after the intervention., Conclusion: Both immediate and delayed operative morbidity are more frequent in case of resection. Surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis, even if operated with robotic assisted laparoscopy, is associated with significant morbidity., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The occurrence of a postoperative seroma is the main complication of mastectomy. In 2011, Ouldamer et al. adapted a quilting technique used in reconstructive surgery in mastectomy closure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of quilting in the prevention of postoperative seroma., Patients and Methods: This is an observational prospective study to the Centre Hospital-University of Tours. Hundred and forty-four patients who underwent a mastectomy between January 1st, 2011 and October 1st, 2012 were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups, one with a classic wound closure with drainage and the second with quilting suture of skin flaps to the underlying musculature after mastectomy without drainage., Results: Quilting suture significantly reduces the postoperative seroma appearance (OR=0.15; CI95% [0.06-0.39]; P<0.001). Operative time is increased by 20minutes in the quilted group (P<0.001). Postoperative pain is not changed by quilting. The duration of hospitalization is significantly shorter (5.09±1.46 days versus 6.49±2.77 days; P<0.001). Quality of the healing and appearance of the scar, rated by patients, are identical in both groups., Conclusion: Quilting is an effective method not only for prevention of seroma, but also for reducing of hospitalization duration, without increasing of postoperative pain and complications., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier SAS.)

Objectives: To assess the interest of robotic-assisted laparoscopy in the context of deep infiltrating endometriosis and to investigate perioperative results., Patients and Methods: From November 2008 to April 2012, 164 women with stage IV endometriosis who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopy (DA VINCI Intuitive Surgical System(®)) were included by eight international participating clinical centers. Patients were divided in 4 groups according to the localization of the nodule(s): rectum (n=88), bladder (n=23), ureter and uterosacral ligaments (n=115) et hysterectomy (n=28). We evaluated the procedures performed, the duration of intervention, the complications, the recurrence and the impact on fertility., Results: In the rectum group, there was a laparotomy conversion, 2 sutured rectal injuries and a red cells blood transfusion. In the bladder group, there was a vesicovaginal hematoma and a prolongated intermittent self-catheterization. In the ureter and uterosacral ligaments group, there was 2 ureteral fistulas and there was no complication in the hysterectomy group., Discussion and Conclusion: This study is the largest series published in the literature on robotic-assisted laparoscopy for deep infiltrating endometriosis. The interest of robotic-assisted laparoscopy in deep infiltrating endometriosis seems to be promising while no increase in surgical time, blood loss, and intra- and postoperative complications were observed., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)