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ABSTRACT The present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in cats of the Serra da Tiririca State Park region using the IFAT to evaluate the sex and age variables. The cats were domiciled in the region of Serra da Tiririca State Park (PESET-RJ), Rio de Janeiro. Between 2015 and 2016, a total of 86 blood samples were collected from 35 female and 51 male semi-domiciled cats that were attended to by a spay-neuter program of UFF. Samples were evaluated for anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G by the indirect immunofluorescence reaction (IFAT) with a cut-off point of 1:40. Of the samples analyzed, 29.07% (25/86) presented anti-T gondii antibodies. There was no significant association (P> 0.05) between the variables sex and age of the animals with serology results. The results obtained in this study suggest that T. gondii has a considerable distribution among the cats of the studied region (PESET-RJ). This is the first report of the seroprevalence of T. gondii in cats from this area. Age and gender were not considered risk factors for infection by T. gondii in this group of animals studied.

Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) is the most frequent cause of food allergy in the first months of life. Despite the fact that there are different guidelines and recommendations on the management of children with CMPA, there continues to be great variability in diagnostic and therapeutic criteria in Latin America. The Food Allergy Working Group of the Latin American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition summoned a group of Latin American experts to reach a consensus and formulate a document to unify diagnostic and therapeutic criteria for CMPA. Three teams were formed, each with a coordinator, and the members of each team developed a series of statements for their corresponding module: a) clinical manifestations and diagnosis; b) diagnostic tools, and c) treatment. A search of the medical literature was carried out to support the information presented in each module and 28 statements were then selected. The statements were discussed, after which they were evaluated by all the experts, utilizing the Delphi method. Their opinions on statement agreement or disagreement were anonymously issued. The final statements selected were those with above 75% agreement and their corresponding recommendations were formulated, resulting in the document presented herein. Resumen: La alergia a las proteínas de leche de vaca (APLV) constituye la causa más frecuente de alergia alimentaria en los primeros meses de vida. A pesar de la existencia de diferentes guías y recomendaciones sobre el manejo de niños con APLV, en Latinoamérica sigue observándose una gran variabilidad de criterios diagnósticos y terapéuticos. El grupo de trabajo de Alergia Alimentaria de la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Gastroenterología, Hepatología y Nutrición Pediátrica se dio a la tarea de convocar a un grupo de expertos de la región, realizar un consenso y elaborar un documento con el objetivo de unificar criterios diagnósticos y terapéuticos para APLV. Se dividió el grupo en tres equipos bajo un coordinador para cada equipo, y los miembros de cada grupo formularon una serie de enunciados correspondientes a uno de tres módulos diferentes: a) manifestaciones clínicas; b) herramientas diagnósticas, y c) tratamiento. Se buscó la información en la literatura médica para sustentar la información de cada uno de ellos, y posteriormente se seleccionaron 28 enunciados, los cuales fueron discutidos y posteriormente evaluados por todos los expertos, a través de método Delphi, quienes emitieron su opinión sobre acuerdo o desacuerdo sobre las mismas de forma anónima. Todos los enunciados obtuvieron porcentajes de acuerdo mayores al 75%, por lo que permanecieron, y con base en ellos se elaboraron las recomendaciones y se presentan.

Resumen: La alergia a las proteínas de leche de vaca (APLV) constituye la causa más frecuente de alergia alimentaria en los primeros meses de vida. A pesar de la existencia de diferentes guías y recomendaciones sobre el manejo de niños con APLV, en Latinoamérica sigue observándose una gran variabilidad de criterios diagnósticos y terapéuticos. El grupo de trabajo de Alergia Alimentaria de la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Gastroenterología, Hepatología y Nutrición Pediátrica se dio a la tarea de convocar a un grupo de expertos de la región, realizar un consenso y elaborar un documento con el objetivo de unificar criterios diagnósticos y terapéuticos para APLV. Se dividió el grupo en tres equipos bajo un coordinador para cada equipo, y los miembros de cada grupo formularon una serie de enunciados correspondientes a uno de tres módulos diferentes: a) manifestaciones clínicas; b) herramientas diagnósticas, y c) tratamiento. Se buscó la información en la literatura médica para sustentar la información de cada uno de ellos, y posteriormente se seleccionaron 28 enunciados, los cuales fueron discutidos y posteriormente evaluados por todos los expertos, a través de método Delphi, quienes emitieron su opinión sobre acuerdo o desacuerdo sobre las mismas de forma anónima. Todos los enunciados obtuvieron porcentajes de acuerdo mayores al 75%, por lo que permanecieron, y con base en ellos se elaboraron las recomendaciones y se presentan. Abstract: Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) is the most frequent cause of food allergy in the first months of life. Despite the fact that there are different guidelines and recommendations on the management of children with CMPA, there continues to be great variability in diagnostic and therapeutic criteria in Latin America. The Food Allergy Working Group of the Latin American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition summoned a group of Latin American experts to reach a consensus and formulate a document to unify diagnostic and therapeutic criteria for CMPA. Three teams were formed, each with a coordinator, and the members of each team developed a series of statements for their corresponding module: a) clinical manifestations and diagnosis; b) diagnostic tools, and c) treatment. A search of the medical literature was carried out to support the information presented in each module and 28 statements were then selected. The statements were discussed, after which they were evaluated by all the experts, utilizing the Delphi method. Their opinions on statement agreement or disagreement were anonymously issued. The final statements selected were those with above 75% agreement and their corresponding recommendations were formulated, resulting in the document presented herein.

Background: We report patient characteristics, treatment pattern and one-year clinical outcome of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) from Kerala, India. This cohort forms part of Kerala Atrial Fibrillation (KERALA-AF) registry which is an ongoing large prospective study. Methods: KERALA-AF registry collected data of adults with previously or newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) during April 2016 to April 2017. A total of 3421 patients were recruited from 53 hospitals across Kerala state. We analysed one-year follow-up outcome of 2507 patients with NVAF. Results: Mean age at recruitment was 67.2 years (range 18–98) and 54.8% were males. Main co-morbidities were hypertension (61.2%), hyperlipidaemia (46.2%) and diabetes mellitus (37.2%). Major co-existing diseases were chronic kidney disease (42.1%), coronary artery disease (41.6%), and chronic heart failure (26.4%). Mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.18 (SD ± 1.7) and HAS-BLED score, 1.84 (SD ± 1.3). At baseline, use of oral anticoagulants (OAC) was 38.6% and antiplatelets 32.7%. On one-month follow-up use of OAC increased to 65.8% and antiplatelets to 48.3%. One-year all-cause mortality was 16.48 and hospitalization 20.65 per 100 person years. The main causes of death were cardiovascular (75.0%), stroke (13.1%) and others (11.9%). The major causes of hospitalizations were acute coronary syndrome (35.0%), followed by arrhythmia (29.5%) and heart failure (8.4%). Conclusions: Despite high risk profile of patients in this registry, use of OAC was suboptimal, whereas antiplatelets were used in nearly half of patients. A relatively high rate of annual mortality and hospitalization was observed in patients with NVAF in Kerala AF Registry.

The NeNa and the MgAl cycles play a fundamental role in the nucleosynthesis of asymptotic giant branch stars undergoing hot bottom burning. The Na23(p,γ)24Mg reaction links these two cycles and a precise determination of its rate is required to correctly estimate the contribution of these stars to the chemical evolution of various isotopes of Na, Mg and Al. At temperatures of 50≲T≲110MK, narrow resonances at Ep=140 and 251keV are the main contributors to the reaction rate, in addition to the direct capture that dominates in the lower part of the temperature range. We present new measurements of the strengths of these resonances at the Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics (LUNA). We have used two complementary detection approaches: high efficiency with a 4π BGO detector for the 140keV resonance, and high resolution with a HPGe detector for the 251keV resonance. Thanks to the reduced cosmic ray background of LUNA, we were able to determine the resonance strength of the 251keV resonance as ωγ=482(82)μeV and observed new gamma ray transitions for the decay of the corresponding state in Mg24 at Ex=11931keV. With the highly efficient BGO detector, we observed a signal for the 140keV resonance for the first time in a direct measurement, resulting in a strength of ωγ140=1.46−0.53+0.58neV (68% CL). Our measurement reduces the uncertainty of the Na23(p,γ)24Mg reaction rate in the temperature range from 0.05 to 0.1GK to at most −35%+50% at 0.07GK. Accordingly, our results imply a significant reduction of the uncertainties in the nucleosynthesis calculations. Keywords: Experimental nuclear astrophysics, Underground nuclear physics, Hydrogen burning, Stellar evolution

The 18O(p,α)15N reaction affects the synthesis of 15N, 18O and 19F isotopes, whose abundances can be used to probe the nucleosynthesis and mixing processes occurring deep inside asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. We performed a low-background direct measurement of the 18O(p,α)15N reaction cross-section at the Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics (LUNA) from center of mass energy Ec.m.=340 keV down to Ec.m.=55 keV, the lowest energy measured to date corresponding to a cross-section of less than 1 picobarn/sr. The strength of a key resonance at center of mass energy Er=90 keV was found to be a factor of 10 higher than previously reported. A multi-channel R-matrix analysis of our and other data available in the literature was performed. Over a wide temperature range, T=0.01–1.00 GK, our new astrophysical rate is both more accurate and precise than recent evaluations. Stronger constraints can now be placed on the physical processes controlling nucleosynthesis in AGB stars with interesting consequences on the abundance of 18O in these stars and in stardust grains, specifically on the production sites of oxygen-rich Group II grains. Keywords: Stellar hydrogen burning, Hydrostatic stellar nucleosynthesis

Theoretical models of β-delayed neutron emission are used as crucial inputs in r-process calculations. Benchmarking the predictions of these models is a challenge due to a lack of currently available experimental data. In this work the β-delayed neutron emission probabilities of 33 nuclides in the important mass regions south and south-west of 132Sn are presented, 16 for the first time. The measurements were performed at RIKEN using the Advanced Implantation Detector Array (AIDA) and the BRIKEN neutron detector array. The P1n values presented constrain the predictions of theoretical models in the region, affecting the final abundance distribution of the second r-process peak at A≈130.

El Ca y el Mg intervienen en el crecimiento vegetal según su disponibilidad, y posiblemente su relación. Los suelos de la Región Pampeana se han considerado bien dotados de estos elementos, aunque diagnosticaron áreas con bajos contenidos. El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar diferentes concentraciones de Ca en solución nutritiva sobre la producción de materia seca (MS), contenido de Ca y Mg en MS, y su exportación aérea en raigrás anual (Lolium multiflorum L.) y soja forrajera (Glycine max [L.] Merr). Adicionalmente, se evaluó el efecto de duplicar la concentración a igual relación Ca/Mg. Se realizó un ensayo con soluciones nutritivas de 1, 5, 9 y 12 mM Ca y 2 mM Mg. Se adicionó un tratamiento con 10 mM Ca y 4 mM Mg. Se realizaron tres cortes en raigrás y uno en soja. Se determinó que en raigrás los niveles de nutrición cálcica influyen sobre las concentraciones y exportación de Ca y Mg en MS, sin efectos sobre la producción de MS. La relación Ca/Mg ocasionalmente se relacionó con la concentración de Ca y Mg en MS y en la exportación de Ca y Mg. En soja, los niveles de nutrición cálcica influyen sobre la producción de MS, concentraciones de Ca en MS y en la exportación de Ca y Mg, mientras que no intervienen en la concentración de Mg en MS. En este cultivo, la relación Ca/Mg en solución ocasionalmente produjo efecto en la concentración de Ca en MS y en la exportación de Ca y Mg.

Aconitum plants have long played a major role in traditional Asian medicine and cuisine. The roots are often eaten or used to prepare a soup for culinary or traditional medicinal reasons. Thus, many cases of aconitine poisoning have been reported in China and nearby countries. However, only few cases have been described in Europe. We present two unrelated cases of aconitine poisoning. A 44 year and a 56 year old man were found dead in their beds. In both cases, residual plant material was found in close proximity to the body. The autopsies revealed gastric contents interspersed with plant components, blood congestion, hemorrhages in the lung tissue, lung edema and brain edema. Additionally, we found fine-vacuolar fat-negative intracytoplasmatic transformation of hepatocytes. Aconitine was detected in all analyzed samples (blood, urine, gastric content and kidney) and quantified in femoral blood with 86.2 μg/L (case 1) and 2.3 μg/L (case 2), respectively. In both forensic cases, the scenery suggested a suicidal ingestion of Aconitum plant material.

Drought is a stochastic natural phenomenon that appears from considerable lacking in precipitation. Among natural hazards, drought is known to provoke extensive damage and affects a important number of people. Techniques for observing agricultural drought from R.S. are indirect. These depend on using images based parameters to exemplifed soil moisture condition when the soil is often obscured by a vegetation cover. The procedure are mainly based on determing vegetation health or greenness using VI , often in combination with canopy temperature anomalies using thermal infrared wavebands. In this study were used remote sensing images from the Landsat 8 OLI, taken in may and june 2017. The study area was the county of Iasi. To evaluate drought in this study, for Iasi county, Normalized Vegetation Supply Water Index (NVSWI) and Vegetation Health Index (VHI), were used. VSWI is derived from The Vegetation Supply Water Index (VSWI). This index was developed to combine the NDVI and the land surface temperature (LST) to detect the moisture condition. VHI was developed through a combination of Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), one of the important vegetation indicators when monitoring weather-related variations, such as droughts, and Temperature Condition Index (TCI), which reflects the stress of temperature, that both indicies can be successfully used to determine the spatiotemporal extent of agricultural drought. After applying NVSWI to determine the degree of drought we noticed that for the satellite image of May prevailed “slight drought” and for june “normal”. Second index, VHI indicate that in both months, may and june, is “no drought”. It can be concluded that VHI is a very good indicator for studing extreme drought and NVSWI offer information about areas “normal” and “wet”.

Objective. European countries practice a wide range of car driving license renewal procedures. These range from issuing lifelong licenses without subsequent medical checks, to issuing a license to age 70 and for 3- or 5-year periods thereafter based on self-declarations of medical fitness, to requiring medical examinations for renewal, to renewal every 5 years from the age of 45. This paper presents a case study of the different older driver licensing procedures in seven European countries and addresses the association between these procedures and older driver safety. Method. The seven countries studied consist of France, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The first-mentioned three countries have the most relaxed license renewal procedures and least demanding medical examination requirements. Results. There is no evidence that any license renewal procedure or requirement for a medical examination has an effect on the overall road safety of drivers aged 65+, though undoubtedly there are individual drivers who should no longer be driving who might be detected by stringent renewal procedures. Considering the three countries with the most relaxed licensing procedures, The Netherlands and United Kingdom have the lowest fatality rate for car drivers aged 65+, and the rate for France is falling rapidly. Conclusions. There is also evidence that stringent renewal procedures and demanding medical examinations at renewal reduce the level of car driving licenses among older people. France, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom have the highest level of driving license holding by people aged 65+, which has direct implications for the independent mobility of older people. Reduced mobility also has safety implications: in about half the European countries for which road accident fatality data have been analyzed, people aged 65+ are at greater risk of death as a pedestrian than as a car driver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The observation of oxygen isotopes in giant stars sheds light on mixing processes operating in their interiors. Due to the very strong correlation between nuclear burning and mixing processes it is very important to reduce the uncertainty on the cross sections of the nuclear reactions that are involved. In this paper we focus our attention on the reaction O18(p,γ)19F. While the O18(p,α)15N channel is thought to be dominant, the (p,γ) channel can still be an important component in stellar burning in giants, depending on the low energy cross section. So far only extrapolations from higher-energy measurements exist and recent estimates vary by orders of magnitude. These large uncertainties call for an experimental reinvestigation of this reaction. We present a direct measurement of the O18(p,γ)19F cross section using a high-efficiency 4π BGO summing detector at the Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics (LUNA). The reaction cross section has been directly determined for the first time from 140 keV down to 85 keV and the different cross section components have been obtained individually. The previously highly uncertain strength of the 90 keV resonance was found to be 0.53 ± 0.07 neV, three orders of magnitude lower than an indirect estimate based on nuclear properties of the resonant state and a factor of 20 lower than a recently established upper limit, excluding the possibility that the 90 keV resonance can contribute significantly to the stellar reaction rate. Keywords: Experimental nuclear astrophysics, Underground nuclear physics, Hydrogen burning, Stellar evolution

Brooding, which refers to a repetitive focus on one's distress, is associated with functional connectivity within Default-Mode, Salience, and Executive-Control networks (DMN; SN; ECN), comprising the so-called “triple-network” of attention. Individual differences in brain structure that might perseverate dysfunctional connectivity of brain networks associated with brooding are less clear, however. Using diffusion and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, we explored multimodal relationships between brooding severity, white-matter microstructure, and resting-state functional connectivity in depressed adults (N = 32–44), and then examined whether findings directly replicated in a demographically-similar, independent sample (N = 36–45). Among the fully-replicated results, three core findings emerged. First, brooding severity is associated with functional integration and segregation of the triple-network, particularly with a Precuneal subnetwork of the DMN. Second, microstructural asymmetry of the Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus (SLF) provides a robust structural connectivity basis for brooding and may account for over 20% of its severity (Discovery: adj. R2 = 0.18; Replication: adj. R2 = 0.22; MSE = 0.06, Predictive R2 = 0.22). Finally, microstructure of the right SLF and auxiliary white-matter is associated with the functional connectivity correlates of brooding, both within and between components of the triple-network (Discovery: adj. R2 = 0.21; Replication: adj. R2 = 0.18; MSE = 0.03, Predictive R2 = 0.21–0.22). By cross-validating multimodal discovery with replication, the present findings help to reproducibly unify disparate perspectives of brooding etiology. Based on that synthesis, our study reformulates brooding as a microstructural-functional connectivity neurophenotype. Keywords: Multimodal, Microstructure, Resting-state, Triple-network, Brooding, Reproducibility

Background: A pharmacoinvasive strategy may alleviate the logistical and geographical barriers in timely reperfusion of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), especially in a developing country like India. Aim: To assess the safety and efficacy of pharmacoinvasive strategy versus primary PCI in STEMI patients at 2 years. Methods: Patients enrolled in STEPP-AMI, an observational, multicenter, prospective study of 200 patients presenting with STEMI, were followed up for 2 years. Group ‘A’ comprised of patients with pharmacoinvasive strategy (n = 45), and patients who underwent primary PCI (n = 155) formed group ‘B’. Primary endpoint was composite of death, cardiogenic shock, reinfarction, repeat revascularization of the culprit artery, or congestive heart failure at 30 days, with follow-up till 2 years. Results: The primary endpoint occurred in 11.1% and 17.8% in group A and in 3.9% and 13.6% in group B, at 30 days and 2 years, respectively (p = 0.07, RR = 2.87; 95% CI: 0.92–8.97 at 30 days and p = 0.47, RR = 1.31; 95% CI: 0.62–2.76). There was no difference in bleeding risk between groups, 2.2% in group A and 0.6% in group B (‘p’ = 0.4). The infarct-related artery patency varied at angiogram; it was 82.2% in arm A and 22.6% in arm B (‘p’

Objective: To study the prognostic value of soluble Suppression of Tumorigenicity-2 (sST2) in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods: In this prospective, observational, multicenter study, patients with heart failure (HF) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)

Background: Although the safety and effectiveness of Drug-Eluting Stents (DES) has been established extensively, reports on long term clinical outcome with angiographic findings in patients with long coronary artery lesions are not many. Methods: In this single-center prospective registry of 100 patients, a total of 110 denovo long lesions (>20 mm) were treated with Resolute Zotarolimus Eluting Stent (R-ZES). The patients were followed up clinically at 3, 6 and 12 months and follow up coronary angiography was performed at 9-months. The primary end point was one year rate of target lesion failure (TLF) which is a composite of cardiac death, target lesion myocardial infarction or ischemia driven target lesion revascularization (TLR). The secondary end points included definite or probable stent thrombosis, 9-month angiographic restenosis and late lumen loss. Results: The mean age of patients was 58.7 ± 9.50 years with prevalence of diabetes as high as 60%. The mean lesion length was 24.67 ± 4.87 mm with a mean reference vessel diameter of 2.85 ± 0.32 mm and 67.3% were Type C lesions (ACC/AHA classification). Two patients died during follow-up, of which one was non-cardiac death. One patient had target vessel myocardial infarction and five patients (4.5%) had ischemia driven TLR. The incidence of TLF was 6.36%. Binary restenosis was seen in 7 out of 93 lesions (7.5%). Median late lumen loss at 9 month was 0.22 mm. No stent thrombosis was noted in the study. Conclusion: Implantation of R-ZES in real-world patients with long coronary artery lesions is safe with comparable efficacy to what is observed in the treatment of less complex lesions.

It is well-established that altering the proportion of starch and fibre in ruminant diets can alter ruminal and post-ruminal digestion, although quantitative evidence that this reduces enteric methane (CH4) production in dairy cattle is lacking. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of varying grass-to-maize silage ratio (70 : 30 and 30 : 70 DM basis), offered ad libitum, with either a concentrate that was high in starch or fibre, on CH4 production, intake, performance and milk composition of dairy cows. A total of 20 cows were allocated to one of the four experimental diets in a two-by-two factorial design run as a Latin square with each period lasting 28 days. Measurements were conducted during the final 7 days of each period. Cows offered the high maize silage ration had a higher dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, milk energy output and lower CH4 emissions when expressed per kg DMI and per unit of ingested gross energy, but there was no difference in total CH4 production. Several of the milk long-chain fatty acids (FA) were affected by forage treatment with the most notable being an increase in 18:0, 18:1 c9, 18:2 c9 c12 and total mono unsaturated FA, observed in cows offered the higher inclusion of maize silage, and an increase in 18:3 c9 c12 c15 when offered the higher grass silage ration. Varying the composition of the concentrate had no effect on DMI or milk production; however, when the high-starch concentrate was fed, milk protein concentration and milk FAs, 10:0, 14:1, 15:0, 16:1, increased and 18:0 decreased. Interactions were observed for milk fat concentration, being lower in cows offered high-grass silage and high-fibre concentrates compared with the high-starch concentrate, and FA 17:0, which was the highest in milk from cows fed the high-grass silage diet supplemented with the high-starch concentrate. In conclusion, increasing the proportion of maize silage in the diets of dairy cows increased intake and performance, and reduced CH4 production, but only when expressed on a DM or energy intake basis, whereas starch-to-fibre ratio in the concentrate had little effect on performance or CH4 production.

The aim of the study was to assess the cli­nical performance of the model combining areal bone mineral density (aBMD) at spine and microarchitecural texture (TBS) for the detection of the osteoporo­tic fracture. The Eastern European Study is a multicenter study (Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine) evaluating the role of TBS in routine clinical practice as a complement to aBMD. All scans were acquired on Holo­gic Disco­very and GE Prodigy densitometers in a routine clinical manner. The additional clinical values of aBMD and TBS were analyzed using a two steps classification tree approach (aBMD followed by TBS tertiles) for all type of osteoporotic fracture (All-OP Fx). Sensitivity, specifi­city and accuracy of fracture detection as well as the Net Reclassification Index (NRI) were calculated. This study involves 1031 women subjects aged 45 and older recrui­ted in east European countries. Clinical centers were cross-calibrated in terms of BMD and TBS. As expe­cted, areal BMD (aBMD) at spine and TBS were only mo­derately correlated (r2 = 0.19). Prevalence rate for All-OP Fx was 26%. Subjects with fracture have significant lower TBS and aBMD than subjects without fracture (p

Os efeitos do uso de minerais complexados durante o pré-parto sobre a ocorrência de retenção de placenta foram avaliados em 135 vacas Holandesas de dois ou mais partos: grupo mineral iônico (69 animais) e grupo mineral complexado (66 animais). Em 55 desses animais foram também avaliadas as concentrações séricas da imunoglobulina G (IgG), Zn, Cu e a qualidade do colostro. O experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, em arranjo em parcelas subdivididas. As concentrações séricas de IgG e dos microminerais foram avaliadas por análise de variância, sendo utilizados, respectivamente, os testes de Duncan e Fisher. A taxa de erro α admitida foi de 7%. Não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos para ocorrência de retenção de placenta, qualidade do colostro, concentrações séricas de Zn e IgG (P>0,07), sendo observada diferença para a concentração de Cu (P

Fetal hemoglobin (HbF), encoded by the HBG2 and HBG1 genes, is the best-known genetic modulator of sickle cell anemia, varying dramatically in concentration in the blood of these patients. This variation is partially associated with polymorphisms located in the promoter region of the HBG2 and HBG1 genes. In order to explore known and unknown polymorphisms in these genes, the sequences of their promoter regions were screened in sickle cell anemia patients and correlated with both their HbF levels and their βS-globin haplotypes. Additionally, the sequences were compared with genes from 2 healthy groups, a reference one (N = 104) and an Afro-descendant one (N = 98), to identify polymorphisms linked to the ethnic background.The reference group was composed by healthy individuals from the general population. Four polymorphisms were identified in the promoter region of HBG2 and 8 in the promoter region of HBG1 among the studied groups. Four novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) located at positions -324, -317, -309 and -307 were identified in the reference group. A deletion located between -396 and -391 in the HBG2 promoter region and the SNP -271 C→T in the HBG1 promoter region were associated with the Central African Republic βS-globin haplotype. In contrast, the -369 C→G and 309 A→G SNPs in the HBG2 promoter region were correlated to the Benin haplotype. The polymorphisms -396_-391 del HBG2, -369 SNP HBG2 and -271 SNP HBG1 correlated with HbF levels. Hence, we suggest an important role of HBG2 and HBG1 gene polymorphisms on the HbF synthesis.

Determinaram-se os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente (CDAP) e verdadeira (CDVP) do fósforo de alimentos de origem animal. Foram utilizados 24 suínos, machos castrados, com média de peso de 25,0±3,0kg no período de crescimento e 24 suínos com média de peso de 60,0±5,0kg para o período de terminação. Os tratamentos foram resultantes de um fatorial de duas metodologias (coleta total de fezes e indicador fecal), duas fases (crescimento e terminação) e oito dietas (seis alimentos de origem animal, uma ração referência e uma ração com baixo conteúdo de fósforo total para estimar as perdas de fósforo endógeno), com três repetições e um animal por unidade experimental. Não foram encontradas diferenças entre as metodologias ou entre as fases avaliadas (P>0,05). Os valores médios de CDAP e CDVP encontrados com suínos em crescimento e terminação foram, respectivamente, 61,7 e 62,0% para a farinha de carne e ossos com 35% de proteína bruta (PB); 62,3 e 62,9% para a farinha de carne e ossos com 41% de PB; 49,0 e 52,5% para a farinha de vísceras e penas; 72,3 e 90,8% para a farinha de penas; 85,5 e 88,5% para a farinha de peixe com 55% de PB; e 80,0 e 92,0% para o soro de leite em pó.The coefficients of apparent (CADP) and true (CTDP) digestibility of the phosphorus from animal origin feedstuffs were determined. Twenty-four barrows in growing phase with initial weight 25.0±3.0kg and the same barrows in finishing phase with initial weight 60.0±5.0kg were used. The treatments were made by a factorial of two methodologies (total collection of feces and fecal marker), two phases (growing and finishing), and eight diets (six animal origin feedstuffs, one reference diet, and one diet with low content of total phosphorus in order to estimate the losses of endogenous phosphorus), with three replicates by treatment. There was no difference between the methodologies or phases evaluated (P>0.05). The average of CADP and CTDP found in growing and finishing phases were, respectively, 61.7 and 62.0% for 35% crude protein (CP) meat and bone meal; 62.3 and 62.9% for 41% CP meat and bone meal; 49.0 and 52.5% for feather and poultry by-products meal; 72.3 and 90.8% for feather meal; 85.5 and 88.5% for 55% CP fish meal; and 80.0 and 92.0% for powder milk whey.

Quarenta e oito bezerras da raça Holandesa, de um a 60 dias de idade, foram utilizadas para avaliar os efeitos da adição ou não de Lactobacillus acidophillus, Bifidobacterium bifidum e Enterococus faecium ao leite sem resíduo de antimicrobiano (L) e ao leite de vacas em tratamento de mastite (LTM), sobre o consumo de alimentos, ganho de peso e incidência e duração de diarréia. O consumo de concentrado e água foi medido diariamente, e o ganho de peso semanalmente. Utilizou-se um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com 12 repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de um arranjo fatorial 2 x 2 (L ou LTM e ausência ou presença de probiótico). A adição de probiótico reduziu o número de dias com diarréia no grupo de animais que recebeu leite sem resíduo de antimicrobiano (PForty-eight Holstein calves from birth until 60-day-old were used to evaluate the effect of commercial probiotic Biobac® (Lactobacillus acidophillus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Enterococcus faecium) in addition to milk without antimicrobials residue or milk from mastitis treatead cows on theoccurrence and the length of diarrhea. Consumption of concentrate and water were daily measured and the weight was weekly measured. The experiment was carried out according to a random sample design with 12 repetitions for each treatment, arranged in a split plot. The plots were composed by four treatments combined in a factorial arrangement of 2x2. Subplots were composed by the evaluation times. The addition of probiotic was beneficial to reduce the diarrhea period in the calves fed milk without antimicrobial residue. The consumption of concentrate, water, and the weights of the calves were not different among the groups, irrespectively of probiotic supply.

Some mucin genes have been detected during human embryonic and fetal organ development; however, little is known about mucin expression in epidermal development, neither in humans nor in other species. The present research was developed to explore Muc5ac skin expression during prenatal and postnatal rat development. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blotting (WB) and RT-PCR were employed. By IHC, Muc5ac protein was found early in embryonic epidermis from day 13 of gestation until seven days after birth when the surface epidermis became negative and the reaction was restricted to secreting sebum cells. In coincidence with IHC findings, WB analysis showed a band at approximately 200KDa at the same periods of development. Results were also confirmed by RT-PCR. Muc5ac expression in rat embryonic epidermis suggests that Muc5ac may play a protective role in embryonic skin previous to birth which may be replaced by pile covering. To our knowledge, this is the first report which confirmed Muc5ac expression during skin development.Conclusion: Muc5ac expression in rat embryonic epidermis suggests that Muc5ac may play a protective role in embryonic skin previous to birth which may be replaced by pile covering. To our knowledge, this is the first report which confirmed Muc5ac expression during skin development.

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition has been shown to affect both the structure and the function of heathland ecosystems. Heathlands are semi-natural habitats and, as such, undergo regular management by mowing or burning. Different forms of management remove more or less nutrients from the system, so habitat management has the potential to mitigate some of the effects of atmospheric deposition. Data from a dynamic vegetation model and two field experiments are presented. The first involves nitrogen addition following different forms of habitat management. The second tests the use of habitat management to promote heathland recovery after a reduction in nitrogen deposition. Both modelling and experimental approaches suggest that plant and microbial response to nitrogen is affected by management. Shoot growth and rates of decomposition were lowest in plots managed using more intensive techniques, including mowing with litter removal and a high temperature burn. Field data also indicate that ecosystem recovery from prolonged elevated inputs of nitrogen may take many years, or even decades, even after the removal of plant and litter nitrogen stores which accompanies the more intensive forms of habitat management.

ABSTRACT The success of transvaginal follicular aspiration in mares can be influenced by several factors, such as vacuum pump pressure levels. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of different negative pressures (150, 280 and 400mmHg) of the vacuum pump on the oocyte recovery in the mares. The mares (n=10) were undergoing follicular aspiration using three different negative pressures for three consecutive estrous cycles as follows: G150 = 150mmHg (n = 10); G280 = 280mmHg (n = 10); G400 = 400mmHg (n = 10). Every estrous cycle, the group that the mare would participate was drawn, and each animal participated once in each group. Only preovulatory follicle was used, about 30 to 36 hours after application of hCG. To compare the results, the chi-square test was used (5% significance) and Fisher exact test, when recommended. Thirty preovulatory follicles (diameter 36.1±1.80mm) were aspirated and ten oocytes were recovered (33.3%). There was no statistical difference between the experimental groups (p=0.59). Thus, accord to the results observed in this study, we could conclude that the negative pressure of the vacuum pump used was not efficient to increase oocyte recovery.

Background: Prophylactic use of tranexamic acid at the time of cesarean delivery has been shown to decrease the calculated blood loss, but the effect on the need for blood transfusions is unclear., Methods: We randomly assigned patients undergoing cesarean delivery at 31 U.S. hospitals to receive either tranexamic acid or placebo after umbilical-cord clamping. The primary outcome was a composite of maternal death or blood transfusion by hospital discharge or 7 days post partum, whichever came first. Key secondary outcomes were estimated intraoperative blood loss of more than 1 liter (prespecified as a major secondary outcome), interventions for bleeding and related complications, the preoperative-to-postoperative change in the hemoglobin level, and postpartum infectious complications. Adverse events were assessed., Results: A total of 11,000 participants underwent randomization (5529 to the tranexamic acid group and 5471 to the placebo group); scheduled cesarean delivery accounted for 50.1% and 49.2% of the deliveries in the respective groups. A primary-outcome event occurred in 201 of 5525 participants (3.6%) in the tranexamic acid group and in 233 of 5470 (4.3%) in the placebo group (adjusted relative risk, 0.89; 95.26% confidence interval [CI], 0.74 to 1.07; P = 0.19). Estimated intraoperative blood loss of more than 1 liter occurred in 7.3% of the participants in the tranexamic acid group and in 8.0% of those in the placebo group (relative risk, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.79 to 1.05). Interventions for bleeding complications occurred in 16.1% of the participants in the tranexamic acid group and in 18.0% of those in the placebo group (relative risk, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.97); the change in the hemoglobin level was -1.8 g per deciliter and -1.9 g per deciliter, respectively (mean difference, -0.1 g per deciliter; 95% CI, -0.2 to -0.1); and postpartum infectious complications occurred in 3.2% and 2.5% of the participants, respectively (relative risk, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.61). The frequencies of thromboembolic events and other adverse events were similar in the two groups., Conclusions: Prophylactic use of tranexamic acid during cesarean delivery did not lead to a significantly lower risk of a composite outcome of maternal death or blood transfusion than placebo. (Funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03364491.)., (Copyright © 2023 Massachusetts Medical Society.)

Background: Primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection during pregnancy carries a risk of congenital infection and possible severe sequelae. There is no established intervention for preventing congenital CMV infection., Methods: In this multicenter, double-blind trial, pregnant women with primary CMV infection diagnosed before 24 weeks' gestation were randomly assigned to receive a monthly infusion of CMV hyperimmune globulin (at a dose of 100 mg per kilogram of body weight) or matching placebo until delivery. The primary outcome was a composite of congenital CMV infection or fetal or neonatal death if CMV testing of the fetus or neonate was not performed., Results: From 2012 to 2018, a total of 206,082 pregnant women were screened for primary CMV infection before 23 weeks of gestation; of the 712 participants (0.35%) who tested positive, 399 (56%) underwent randomization. The trial was stopped early for futility. Data on the primary outcome were available for 394 participants; a primary outcome event occurred in the fetus or neonate of 46 of 203 women (22.7%) in the group that received hyperimmune globulin and of 37 of 191 women (19.4%) in the placebo group (relative risk, 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80 to 1.72; P = 0.42). Death occurred in 4.9% of fetuses or neonates in the hyperimmune globulin group and in 2.6% in the placebo group (relative risk, 1.88; 95% CI, 0.66 to 5.41), preterm birth occurred in 12.2% and 8.3%, respectively (relative risk, 1.47; 95% CI, 0.81 to 2.67), and birth weight below the 5th percentile occurred in 10.3% and 5.4% (relative risk, 1.92; 95% CI, 0.92 to 3.99). One participant in the hyperimmune globulin group had a severe allergic reaction to the first infusion. Participants who received hyperimmune globulin had a higher incidence of headaches and shaking chills while receiving infusions than participants who received placebo., Conclusions: Among pregnant women, administration of CMV hyperimmune globulin starting before 24 weeks' gestation did not result in a lower incidence of a composite of congenital CMV infection or perinatal death than placebo. (Funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01376778.)., (Copyright © 2021 Massachusetts Medical Society.)

Background: Current strategies for preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are limited to nonpharmacologic interventions. Hydroxychloroquine has been proposed as a postexposure therapy to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), but definitive evidence is lacking., Methods: We conducted an open-label, cluster-randomized trial involving asymptomatic contacts of patients with polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR)-confirmed Covid-19 in Catalonia, Spain. We randomly assigned clusters of contacts to the hydroxychloroquine group (which received the drug at a dose of 800 mg once, followed by 400 mg daily for 6 days) or to the usual-care group (which received no specific therapy). The primary outcome was PCR-confirmed, symptomatic Covid-19 within 14 days. The secondary outcome was SARS-CoV-2 infection, defined by symptoms compatible with Covid-19 or a positive PCR test regardless of symptoms. Adverse events were assessed for up to 28 days., Results: The analysis included 2314 healthy contacts of 672 index case patients with Covid-19 who were identified between March 17 and April 28, 2020. A total of 1116 contacts were randomly assigned to receive hydroxychloroquine and 1198 to receive usual care. Results were similar in the hydroxychloroquine and usual-care groups with respect to the incidence of PCR-confirmed, symptomatic Covid-19 (5.7% and 6.2%, respectively; risk ratio, 0.86 [95% confidence interval, 0.52 to 1.42]). In addition, hydroxychloroquine was not associated with a lower incidence of SARS-CoV-2 transmission than usual care (18.7% and 17.8%, respectively). The incidence of adverse events was higher in the hydroxychloroquine group than in the usual-care group (56.1% vs. 5.9%), but no treatment-related serious adverse events were reported., Conclusions: Postexposure therapy with hydroxychloroquine did not prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection or symptomatic Covid-19 in healthy persons exposed to a PCR-positive case patient. (Funded by the crowdfunding campaign YoMeCorono and others; BCN-PEP-CoV2 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04304053.)., (Copyright © 2020 Massachusetts Medical Society.)

Preterm birth incurs a higher risk for adult cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension. Because preterm birth may impact nephrogenesis, study objectives were to assess renal size and function of adults born preterm versus full term and to examine their relationship with blood pressure (BP; 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring) and circulating renin-Ang (angiotensin) system peptides. The study included 92 young adults born (1987-1997) preterm (≤29 weeks of gestation) and term (n=92) matched for age, sex, and race. Young adults born preterm had smaller kidneys (80±17 versus 90±18 cm 3 /m 2 ; P<0.001), higher urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (0.70; interquartile range, 0.47-1.14 versus 0.58, interquartile range 0.42 to 0.78 mg/mmol, P=0.007), higher 24-hour systolic (121±9 versus 116±8 mm Hg; P=0.001) and diastolic (69±5 versus 66±6 mm Hg; P=0.004) BP, but similar estimated glomerular filtration rate. BP was inversely correlated with kidney size in preterm participants. Plasma Ang I was higher in preterm versus term participants (36.3; interquartile range, 13.2-62.3 versus 19.4; interquartile range, 9.9-28.1 pg/mL; P<0.001). There was no group difference in renin, Ang II, Ang (1-7), and alamandine. In the preterm, but not in the term group, higher BP was significantly associated with higher renin and alamandine and lower birth weight and gestational age with smaller adult kidney size. Young adults born preterm have smaller kidneys, higher urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, higher BP, and higher circulating Ang I levels compared with term controls. Preterm young adults with smaller kidneys have higher BP. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT03261609.

Plants progress from a juvenile vegetative phase of development to an adult vegetative phase of development before they enter the reproductive phase. miR156 has been shown to be the master regulator of the juvenile-to-adult transition in plants. However, the mechanism of how miR156 is transcriptionally regulated still remains elusive. In a forward genetic screen, we identified that a mutation in the SWI2/SNF2 chromatin remodeling ATPase BRAHMA (BRM) exhibited an accelerated vegetative phase change phenotype by reducing the expression of miR156, which in turn caused a corresponding increase in the levels of SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN LIKE genes. BRM regulates miR156 expression by directly binding to the MIR156A promoter. Mutations in BRM not only increased occupancy of the -2 and +1 nucleosomes proximal to the transcription start site at the MIR156A locus but also the levels of trimethylated histone H3 at Lys 27. The precocious phenotype of brm mutant was partially suppressed by a second mutation in SWINGER (SWN), but not by a mutation in CURLEY LEAF, both of which are key components of the Polycomb Group Repressive Complex 2 in plants. Our results indicate that BRM and SWN act antagonistically at the nucleosome level to fine-tune the temporal expression of miR156 to regulate vegetative phase change in Arabidopsis., (© 2016 American Society of Plant Biologists. All Rights Reserved.)

Background: Infants who are born at 34 to 36 weeks of gestation (late preterm) are at greater risk for adverse respiratory and other outcomes than those born at 37 weeks of gestation or later. It is not known whether betamethasone administered to women at risk for late preterm delivery decreases the risks of neonatal morbidities., Methods: We conducted a multicenter, randomized trial involving women with a singleton pregnancy at 34 weeks 0 days to 36 weeks 5 days of gestation who were at high risk for delivery during the late preterm period (up to 36 weeks 6 days). The participants were assigned to receive two injections of betamethasone or matching placebo 24 hours apart. The primary outcome was a neonatal composite of treatment in the first 72 hours (the use of continuous positive airway pressure or high-flow nasal cannula for at least 2 hours, supplemental oxygen with a fraction of inspired oxygen of at least 0.30 for at least 4 hours, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or mechanical ventilation) or stillbirth or neonatal death within 72 hours after delivery., Results: The primary outcome occurred in 165 of 1427 infants (11.6%) in the betamethasone group and 202 of 1400 (14.4%) in the placebo group (relative risk in the betamethasone group, 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 0.97; P=0.02). Severe respiratory complications, transient tachypnea of the newborn, surfactant use, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia also occurred significantly less frequently in the betamethasone group. There were no significant between-group differences in the incidence of chorioamnionitis or neonatal sepsis. Neonatal hypoglycemia was more common in the betamethasone group than in the placebo group (24.0% vs. 15.0%; relative risk, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.37 to 1.87; P<0.001)., Conclusions: Administration of betamethasone to women at risk for late preterm delivery significantly reduced the rate of neonatal respiratory complications. (Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01222247.).

This report describes a disorder of the sexual development in a beagle dog resulting in an intersex condition. A 6 mo old beagle was presented for evaluation of a protruding structure from the vulva consistent with an enlarged clitoris. Ultrasonographic examination revealed the presence of both gonadal and uterine structures. Retrograde cystourethrovaginogram showed the presence of an os clitoris and severe vaginal stenosis. Histological studies revealed the presence of bilateral ovotestes and uterus. The gonad had interstitial cells within seminiferous-like tubules lined only with Sertoli cells and abundant interstitial cells among primordial, primary, and secondary follicles. Hormone assays completed before and after gonadohysterectomy showed an elevation in the levels of progesterone and dihydrotestosterone that returned to baseline 3 mo after surgery. Testosterone levels that were within the male reference ranges before surgery decreased to basal levels postsurgically. 17-β-Estradiol levels showed little variation and values were always within the reference ranges for a male. Cytogenetic analysis showed a normal female karyotype (2n = 78, XX) and polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed the absence of the sex-determining region Y gene. In summary, the dog presented bilateral ovotestes and a 2n = 78, XX chromosomal complement lacking the sex determining region Y gene, consistent with a diagnosis of true hermaphroditism.

Objectives: To determine whether isolated abnormal Doppler indices before 28 weeks predict adverse pregnancy outcomes in uncomplicated monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twins., Methods: A retrospective cohort study of MCDA twin pregnancies receiving antenatal testing at a single center between 2007 and 2013 was conducted. Sonographic surveillance, including Doppler velocimetric studies of the umbilical artery, ductus venosus, and middle cerebral artery of each twin, was initiated by 28 weeks and repeated at least every 2 weeks. All pregnancies were deemed "uncomplicated" at initial sonography, without evidence of polyhydramnios, oligohydramnios, intrauterine growth restriction, twin growth discordance of at least 20%, structural or chromosomal anomalies, or unclear chorionicity. Pregnancies were divided into 2 groups: those with isolated Doppler abnormalities before 28 weeks and those with normal Doppler indices. The primary outcome was a composite including twin-twin transfusion syndrome, intrauterine growth restriction of more than 1 twin, growth discordance of at least 20%, preterm delivery before 34 weeks for fetal indications, or demise of more than 1 fetus., Results: Ninety-six patients were included, with 22 (22.9%) having isolated Doppler abnormalities before 28 weeks. The incidence of the primary outcome did not differ between groups (36.4% versus 28.4%; P = .47). The abnormal Doppler group underwent a greater number of sonographic examinations (15 versus 10; P= .001) and more antenatal admissions for fetal concerns (50.0% versus 12.2%; P < .001)., Conclusions: Isolated Doppler abnormalities are commonly encountered in uncomplicated MCDA pregnancies before 28 weeks yet are not clearly predictive of twin-specific complications. Doppler abnormalities were associated with increased sonographic surveillance and antenatal hospitalizations, suggesting an influence on physician practice patterns. Data may not support Doppler studies before 28 weeks for routine MCDA twin monitoring., (© 2015 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.)

Background and Purpose: There are limited data on risk stratification of stroke in aortic stenosis. This study examined predictors of stroke in aortic stenosis, the prognostic implications of stroke, and how aortic valve replacement (AVR) with or without concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting influenced the predicted outcomes., Methods: Patients with mild-to-moderate aortic stenosis enrolled in the Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) study. Diabetes mellitus, known atherosclerotic disease, and oral anticoagulation were exclusion criteria. Ischemic stroke was the primary end point, and poststroke survival a secondary outcome. Cox models treating AVR as a time-varying covariate were adjusted for atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure, hypertension, age≥75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke/transient ischemic attack, vascular disease, age 65-74 years and female sex (CHA2DS2-VASc) scores., Results: One thousand five hundred nine patients were followed for 4.3±0.8 years (6529 patient-years). Rates of stroke were 5.6 versus 21.8 per 1000 patient-years pre- and post-AVR; 429 (28%) underwent AVR and 139 (9%) died. Atrial fibrillation (hazard ratio [HR], 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-6.6), CHA2DS2-VASc score (HR 1.4 per unit; 95% CI, 1.1-1.8), diastolic blood pressure (HR, 1.4 per 10 mm Hg; 95% CI, 1.1-1.8), and AVR with concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (HR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.4-7.2, all P≤0.026) were independently associated with stroke. Incident stroke predicted death (HR, 8.1; 95% CI, 4.7-14.0; P<0.001)., Conclusions: In patients with aortic stenosis not prescribed oral anticoagulation, atrial fibrillation, AVR with concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting, and CHA2DS2-VASc score were the major predictors of stroke. Incident stroke was strongly associated with mortality., Clinical Trial Registration Url: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00092677., (© 2014 American Heart Association, Inc.)

The analysis of biological shapes has applications in many areas of biology, and tools exist to quantify organ shape and detect shape differences between species or among variants. However, such measurements do not provide any information about the mechanisms of shape generation. Quantitative data on growth patterns may provide insights into morphogenetic processes, but since growth is a complex process occurring in four dimensions, growth patterns alone cannot intuitively be linked to shape outcomes. Here, we present computational tools to quantify tissue deformation and surface shape changes over the course of leaf development, applied to the first leaf of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). The results show that the overall leaf shape does not change notably during the developmental stages analyzed, yet there is a clear upward radial deformation of the leaf tissue in early time points. This deformation pattern may provide an explanation for how the Arabidopsis leaf maintains a relatively constant shape despite spatial heterogeneities in growth. These findings highlight the importance of quantifying tissue deformation when investigating the control of leaf shape. More generally, experimental mapping of deformation patterns may help us to better understand the link between growth and shape in organ development., (© 2014 American Society of Plant Biologists. All Rights Reserved.)