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The application of nuclear technologies in a cargo and container inspection facility can increase the risk of accidents. Estimating the radiation dose in the controlled area generates critical information for elaborating routines aimed at establishing more effective safety procedures. For radiological protection purposes, mapping ambient dose equivalent H*(10) levels is crucial. The radiation source used was a fixed linear accelerator of 4.5 MeV. Five RadEye PRD-ER (Thermo Fisher Scientific) personal radiation monitors and five Geiger-Müller MRAD 111 (Ultra Radac) personal radiation monitors were used for the radiation measurements. The highest ambient equivalent dose rate and dose per scan were found with the Geiger-Müller monitors at values of 5.76E-01 mSv/h and 1.12E-03 mSv, respectively. The results showed that for public individuals, the number of scans at the point of highest dose rate value cannot exceed 893-unit operations. Additionally, the risks involved in the abnormal situation (increased H*(10)) were estimated by using a model to predict the development of solid cancer as a result of occupational radiological exposure. This procedure highlights the risks involved, hence providing initial support to the decision process.

Background and Aims: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is characterized by high LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and early atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). With a lipid lowering therapy (LLT), most individuals with FH may have a longer ASCVD-free survival. However, there is scant data about older individuals with FH., Methods: We compared characteristics of genetically defined FH older individuals with age-matched non-FH counterparts., Results: From 4111 genotyped individuals, 462 older than 60 years were included (198 positive and 264 negative for FH variants). There were no differences regarding median age [%25; 75%] 66.0 (62.0; 71.0) and 66.0 (62.2; 71.0) years, p = 0.68 for FH and non-FH, respectively. In both groups, there was a higher frequency of females, however, there were more males in the FH group 37.4% vs. 24.2%, p = 0.002. No differences were seen between FH and non-FH in LLT use: 88.5% vs. 91.5%, p = 0.29. Despite a longer LLT duration in FH patients (with 11.0 (7.0; 20.0) vs. 7.0 (3.0; 13.0) years, p < 0.001), treatment was started late in both groups: at 54.0 (47.0; 61.0) and 59.0 (52.0; 64.0) years, p < 0.001, in FH and non-FH, respectively. FH had greater frequencies of previous and early ASCVD (40.9% vs. 27.3%, p = 0.002, and 22.2% vs. 9.0%, p < 0.001). In FH, male sex [HR (95%CI)] 2.67 (1.50-4.73), p = 0.001, and LLT onset age 0.96 (0.93-0.99), p = 0.009, were independently associated with ASCVD., Conclusions: Among hypercholesterolemic older individuals participating in a cascade screening program, the genetic diagnosis of FH was associated with higher ASCVD rates, emphasizing the relevance of a monogenic defect as the cause of long-lasting hypercholesterolemia and ASCVD risk, particularly in men., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare complication of acute pulmonary embolism, characterized by non-resolving fibro-thrombotic obstructions of large pulmonary arteries. Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the treatment of choice for the disease, significantly improving survival. Patients with worse hemodynamic profile have worse prognosis after surgery, raising the question of whether the use of medical therapy prior to surgery to optimize hemodynamics could improve outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of medical therapy pre-PEA, according to the hemodynamic profile at the diagnosis. We retrospectively analyzed all patients submitted to PEA, from January 2013 to December 2017. Functional, clinical and hemodynamic data were collected to evaluate the main prognostic determinants. Patients were stratified according to the hemodynamic severity and use of targeted therapies prior to surgery. A total of 108 patients were included. Thirty-five patients (32,4%) used targeted therapy pre-PEA. The use of medical therapy delayed the surgical procedure by about 7 months. There was no difference in overall survival between patients that received targeted therapy and those treated only with supportive therapy (87.8% vs 80.3%, respectively, p = 0.426). Nevertheless, when analyzing the group of patients with severe hemodynamic impairment, defined by low cardiac output(<3.7L/min) at baseline, patients treated with targeted therapies presented a significantly better one-year survival. In higher-risk CTEPH patients, characterized by the presence of low cardiac output, the use of targeted therapies prior to PEA was associated with better outcome, suggesting a potential role for pre-operative use of medical treatment in this particular subgroup., Competing Interests: R. Souza received lecture and consultancy fees from Actelion, Bayer, GSK and Pfizer M Terra-Filho received lecture and consultancy fees from Bayer C Fernandes received lecture and consultancy fees from Actelion, Bayer and Pfizer All other authors declare no conflict of interests This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Background: Citrus plants are commercially propagated by grafting, with the rootstock variety influencing a number of horticultural traits, including drought tolerance. Among the different rootstock varieties available for citrus propagation, 'Rangpur' lime is known to confer enhanced tolerance to drought as compared to other citrus rootstocks. The objective of this study was to investigate the poorly understood molecular responses underlying the rootstock-induced drought tolerance in sweet orange., Results: RNA-Seq transcriptome analysis was carried out in leaves of sweet orange grafted on 'Rangpur' lime subjected to control and drought-stress treatments, under greenhouse conditions, using the Illumina HiSeq platform. A total of 41,827 unique transcripts were identified, among which 1764 transcripts showed significant variation (P ≤ 0.001) between the treatments, with 1081 genes induced and 683 repressed by drought-stress treatment. The transcripts were distributed in 44 different categories of cellular component, molecular function and biological process. Several genes related to cell metabolism, including those involved in the metabolisms of cell wall, carbohydrates and antioxidants, light reactions, biotic and abiotic stress responses, as well as genes coding for transcription factors (TFs), protein kinases (PKs) and proteins involved in the abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene signaling pathways, were differentially regulated by drought stress. RNA-Seq data were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis and comparative analysis of expression of the selected genes between sweet orange grafted on drought-tolerant and -sensitive rootstocks revealed new candidate genes for drought tolerance in citrus., Conclusions: In conclusion, our results showed that only a relatively small but functionally diverse fraction of the sweet orange transcriptome, with functions in metabolism, cellular responses and regulation, was differentially regulated by drought stress. The data suggest that the rootstock-induced drought tolerance in sweet orange includes the transcriptional activation of genes related to the cell wall, soluble carbohydrate and antioxidant metabolisms, biotic and abiotic stress responses, TFs, PKs and ABA signaling pathway, and the downregulation of genes involved in the starch metabolism, light reactions and ethylene signaling. Future efforts to elucidate their functional roles and explore their potential in the citrus genetic improvement should benefit from this data.

The mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) has recently been detected in vineyards in southern Brazil. The ant Linepithema micans (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is the most abundant and frequent species in these vineyards, acting mainly as a disperser of the native soil scale, the ground pearl Eurhizococcus brasiliensis (Wille) (Hemiptera: Margarodidae). This study evaluated the interactions (dispersal and predation) of L. micans with P. ficus. The first experiment evaluated the interaction between L. micans and P. ficus in a greenhouse, using Paulsen 1103 rootstock (Vitis berlandieri × Vitis rupestris) planted in pots. Plants were infested by 1) adult females of P. ficus, and 2) adult females of P. ficus and L. micans, and all mealybugs remaining after the experimental period were counted. To evaluate P. ficus predation by L. micans, two laboratory experiments were conducted (25°C, 80% relative humidity). In the first experiment, sprouted potatoes were infested with ovisacs, first-instar nymphs and adult females of P. ficus and evaluated in three treatments: 1) L. micans fed with carbohydrate and protein, 2) L. micans without food, and 3) without ants present. In the second, potatoes were infested only with first-instar nymphs of P. ficus and were exposed in two treatments: 1) L. micans without food, and 2) without ants present. The results were evaluated by counting the remaining mealybugs, with and without ants. The results showed that L. micans does not transport P. ficus, and predates on first-instar nymphs of the mealybug.

Main Conclusion: Overexpression of the citrus CsTIP2;1 improves plant growth and tolerance to salt and drought stresses by enhancing cell expansion, H 2 O 2 detoxification and stomatal conductance. Tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs) are a subfamily of aquaporins, belonging to the major intrinsic protein family. In a previous study, we have shown that a citrus TIP isoform, CsTIP2;1, is highly expressed in leaves and also transcriptionally regulated in leaves and roots by salt and drought stresses and infection by 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus', the causal agent of the Huanglongbing disease, suggesting its involvement in the regulation of the flow of water and nutrients required during both normal growth and stress conditions. Here, we show that the overexpression of CsTIP2;1 in transgenic tobacco increases plant growth under optimal and water- and salt-stress conditions and also significantly improves the leaf water and oxidative status, photosynthetic capacity, transpiration rate and water use efficiency of plants subjected to a progressive soil drying. These results correlated with the enhanced mesophyll cell expansion, midrib aquiferous parenchyma abundance, H 2 O 2 detoxification and stomatal conductance observed in the transgenic plants. Taken together, our results indicate that CsTIP2;1 plays an active role in regulating the water and oxidative status required for plant growth and adaptation to stressful environmental conditions and may be potentially useful for engineering stress tolerance in citrus and other crop plants.

Background: Dietary habits play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis, the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. The objective of this study was to verify if vegetarian (VEG) diet could be related a better profile of subclinical vascular disease evaluated by arterial stiffness and functional and structural properties of carotid arteries, compared to omnivorous (OMN) diet., Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 44 VEG and 44 OMN apparently healthy men ≥35years of age, in order to not have confounding risk factors of subclinical atherosclerosis, were assessed for anthropometric data, blood pressure, blood lipids, glucose, C reactive protein (CRP), and arterial stiffness determined by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). Also, carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT) and distensibility were evaluated., Results: VEG men had lower body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, fasting serum total cholesterol, LDL and non-HDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, glucose and glycated hemoglobin values in comparison with OMN individuals (all p values <0.05). Markers of vascular structure and function were different between VEG and OMN: PWV 7.1±0.8m/s vs. 7.7±0.9m/s (p<0.001); c-IMT 593±94 vs. 661±128μm (p=0.003); and relative carotid distensibility 6.39±1.7 vs. 5.72±1.8% (p=0.042), respectively. After a multivariate linear regression analysis, a VEG diet was independently and negatively associated with PWV (p value 0.005)., Conclusions: A VEG diet is associated with a more favorable cardiovascular diseases biomarker profile and better vascular structural and functional parameters., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The representatives of the genus Hylesia Hübner, [1820] are significant among the medically important Lepidoptera. Adult females use abdominal setae to wrap and protect the eggs that remain for months in nature. These setae, in contact with human skin, may cause allergic reactions including swelling, itching and local erythema, known as lepidopterism. The morphology of the abdominal scales and setae from the female H. oratex Dyar, 1913 is herein described and aspects related to their medical significance are discussed. Portions of each abdominal segment were examined through a scanning electron microscope. Two types of scales without medical importance, and two types of setae with medical importance, classified as "true setae" and "modified setae" were found. The true setae, which are slightly fusiform and have radially arranged lateral projections, are responsible for the allergic reactions caused by skin penetration. The modified setae, which are larger, curved, with the median enlarged and serrated margins, can be responsible for the release of chemical substances. This information provides a better understanding of the structure of the urticating setae, which are responsible for lepidopterism outbreaks in humans, and contributes towards the identification of the moth species involved.

Background: There is little knowledge about familial hypercholesterolemia in Brazil. This study presents the first results of genetic cascade screening performed in the city of Sao Paulo., Material and Methods: Two-hundred and forty-eight suspected index cases were initially included. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and the complete coding sequence of low-density lipoprotein receptor, exon 7 of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 gene and part of exon 26 of apolipoprotein B genes were sequenced. Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification was performed on cases where a causal mutation was not identified through sequencing. After the identification of a causal mutation screening in first-degree relatives was pursued., Results: From 248 index cases, a mutation was found in 125 individuals (50.4%). 394 relatives were included in the cascade screening program and a mutation was identified in 59.4%. Seventy different causal mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene (97.2%) and 2 in the apolipoprotein B gene (2.8%) were found. No mutations were encountered in the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 gene. Mutations in exons 14 and 4 were the most prevalent and, 10 cases of true homozygotes (8 index cases and 2 relatives) and 1 compound heterozygote were identified. The most frequent mutation found was of Lebanese origin, the p.(Cys681*) mutation in exon 14 (8.5%)., Conclusion: Genetic familial hypercholesterolemia cascade screening is feasible in Brazil and leads to identification of a mutation in approximately half of the index cases with higher rates of success in their relatives., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

'Persian' acid lime (PAL) is the most important triploid commercial citrus crop planted in the world. Little is known about the genetic variability of the selections used in Brazil. Therefore, 25 genotypes originating from the PAL, and three control species, Citrus sunki, C. limon, and C. aurantiifolia, were assessed using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphism (IRAP) molecular markers and agronomic traits of the fruit. The dendrograms were designed using the mean Euclidean distance for the physicochemical attributes of the fruit (weight, length, diameter, peel color, peel thickness, number of seeds, juice yield, titratable acidity, soluble solids, and ratio) and the Jaccard distances using the data from the ISSR and IRAP molecular markers. In the physicochemical analysis, the genotypes were grouped according to species. The trait that contributed most to the diversity among accessions was the number of seeds. The 17 ISSR primers produced 69 polymorphic bands in the molecular analysis, and the seven IRAP primers generated 30 polymorphic bands. The markers detected polymorphisms within and among the PALs; two groups were formed within the PALs.

Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important regulator of plant responses to environmental stresses and an absolute requirement for stress tolerance. Recently, a third phytoene synthase (PSY3) gene paralog was identified in monocots and demonstrated to play a specialized role in stress-induced ABA formation, thus suggesting that the first committed step in carotenogenesis is a key limiting step in ABA biosynthesis. To examine whether the ectopic expression of PSY, other than PSY3, would similarly affect ABA level and stress tolerance, we have produced transgenic tobacco containing a fruit-specific PSY (CpPSY) of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.). The transgenic plants contained a single- or double-locus insertion and expressed CpPSY at varying transcript levels. In comparison with the wild-type plants, the CpPSY expressing transgenic plants showed a significant increase on root length and shoot biomass under PEG-, NaCl- and mannitol-induced osmotic stress. The enhanced stress tolerance of transgenic plants was correlated with the increased endogenous ABA level and expression of stress-responsive genes, which in turn was correlated with the CpPSY copy number and expression level in different transgenic lines. Collectively, these results provide further evidence that PSY is a key enzyme regulating ABA biosynthesis and that the altered expression of other PSYs in transgenic plants may provide a similar function to that of the monocot's PSY3 in ABA biosynthesis and stress tolerance. The results also pave the way for further use of CpPSY, as well as other PSYs, as potential candidate genes for engineering tolerance to drought and salt stress in crop plants.

In some American countries, grapevines are affected by Pierce's disease (PD), which is caused by a particular strain of Xylella fastidiosa not yet reported in Brazil. In order to investigate the potential for PD spread in Brazil in case of pathogen introduction, we conducted a faunistic analysis of leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) associated to vineyards in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, with emphasis in the subfamily Cicadellinae (sharpshooters), which includes the main potential vectors of X. fastidiosa. Leafhopper samplings were carried out fortnightly during two years (9/2004-9/2006) in four Vitis vinifera vineyards in the municipalities of Bento Gonçalves and Farroupilha (RS). Thirtyfour leafhopper and six spittlebug species were collected, but most (98.4%) of the 3,893 specimens trapped were leafhoppers, distributed in the subfamilies Cicadellinae (60.2%), Gyponinae (34.1%), Deltocephalinae (3.8%) and Coelidinae (0.3%). The sharpshooter specimens were divided in the tribes Cicadellini (68.5%; 12 species) and Proconiini (31.5%; 11 species). Based on the faunistic indices, five species of Cicadellini, Bucephalogonia xanthophis (Berg), Dilobopterus dispar (Germar), Macugonalia cavifrons Stal, Sibovia sagata (Signoret) and Spinagonalia rubrovittata Cavichioli, and three of Proconiini, Molomea consolida (Schöder), Oncometopia facialis (Signoret) and Oncometopia fusca Melichar were prevalent in the vineyards. The high diversity of native sharpshooters in Rio Grande do Sul indicates the existence of a high risk of PD spread if the pathogen is introduced in grapevines.

The population of Hemiptera Auchenorrhyncha was studied in sweet citrus groves (Citrus sinensis), coffee plantations (Coffea arabica) and a semi-deciduous seasonal forest with shrub physiognomy in Bebedouro, SP, to evaluate the influence of the natural ecosystem on the species composition of the agroecosystems. Monitoring was carried out by using yellow stick cards, which were replaced every 15 days and all Auchenorrhyncha collected were counted and identified. Seven families, 11 subfamilies and 98 species were collected, with Cicadellidae being the most abundant. The native forest presented larger wealth, diversity and equitability of Auchenorrhyncha species, demonstrating to be more stable than the other habitats. The high values of similarities obtained between the agroecosystems and the forest demonstrated that great part of Auchenorrhyncha species occurring in the agricultural habitats was also occurring at the forest, indicating that the last may serve as reservoir of species. The abundance of the taxonomic groups of Auchenorrhyncha collected varied with the evaluated habitats, with Proconiini being the most abundant in the coffee plantation next to the forest, Athysanini, Scaphytopiini, Neocoelidiinae and Coelidiinae in the orange orchard and coffee plantation distant from the forest; Cicadellinae and Agalliinae were not related to any of the habitats. The presence of vector insects and possible vectors of plant diseases in the appraised habitats indicate the need of the implementation of strategies for landscape management.

Lemons, limes and citron constitute a group of closely related Citrus species, whose species delimitations and taxonomic relationships are unclear. In order to identify karyotypic similarities and species relationships within this group, the CMA+/DAPI- banding pattern and the distribution of the 5S and 45S rDNA sites of 10 accessions of lime, lemon, and citron were investigated. The four cultivars of C. limon analyzed showed the same pattern of CMA+ bands and rDNA sites, suggesting that they originated from a single germplasm, later differentiated by distinct somatic mutations. The lemons C. jambhiri, C. limonia and C. volkameriana displayed karyotypes very similar to each other, but they differed from C. limon by the absence of a single chromosome with one band in each telomere. The limes, C. aurantifolia and C. limettioides, seemed less related to each other and exhibited different heteromorphic chromosome pairs. In C. aurantifolia, the presence of a chromosome type unknown in all other Citrus species cytologically known so far supports the assumption that this accession may be derived from a hybrid with a species from the subgenus Papeda or from another genus. Citrus medica was the only homozygous accession of this group and all of its chromosome types were clearly represented in limes and lemons, some of them forming heteromorphic pairs. The analysis of the distribution of rDNA sites allowed a further refinement of the comparison among accessions. The lemons and limes were heterozygous for all rDNA sites, whereas C. medica was entirely homozygous. These data support the hypothesis that C. medica is a true species while the other nine accessions are hybrids., (Copyright 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

The authors present the first Brazilian series of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Forty-one patients were operated on for gallstone disease between July and December 1990. Thirty-one operations were conducted by laparoscopy with no complications and good recovery of the patients. Two had to be submitted to laparotomy due to acute cholecystitis and a very difficult field for dissection. The authors concluded that the procedure is feasible, safe and has great advantages such as better cosmetic result, shorter hospital stay and home recovery time, lower postoperative pain and lower personal and social cost.

To clarify the physiological basis of productivity differences among rooted cuttings and seedlings of eucalypt species, relationships between morphology and water relations were examined in 4-month-old seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden, E. urophylla S.T. Blake and E. cloeziana F. Muell. and in 4-month-old rooted cuttings of three E. grandis cultivars. Four-month-old seedlings had greater dry weights, lower leaf area/root dry weight (LA/RDW) ratios and lower shoot/root dry weight (S/R) ratios than 4-month-old rooted cuttings. For all cultivars of E. grandis, tall rooted cuttings, as defined by height at age 4 weeks, had greater dry weights by age 4 months and lower LA/RDW and S/R ratios than short rooted cuttings. There were differences in height growth, dry matter productivity and relative shoot and root development among cuttings of different E. grandis cultivars, but these differences were not as great as the differences between short and tall grades of the same cultivar and between seedlings and cuttings. Consistent with the differences in LA/RDW and S/R ratios, seedlings had higher daytime water potentials (Psi(x)) than cuttings, and tall cuttings had higher daytime values of Psi(x) than short cuttings. Differences in Psi(x) were also related to stomatal conductance (g(wv)), which was up to 300% greater in short cuttings than in tall cuttings. Among seedlings, those of E. cloeziana, which had the smallest dry weight at age 4 months, had the highest g(wv), whereas those of E. grandis, which had the greatest dry weight at age 4 months, had the lowest g(wv). Unlike seedlings and the tall cuttings, short cuttings lost turgor when subjected to drought. The differences observed in susceptibility to water stress may account in part for the associated differences in dry matter production. Xylem pressure potential and relative water deficit at zero turgor did not differ significantly among the types of plants studied, which suggests that differences in growth rates were not the result of differences in dehydration tolerance.