Efficient Agrobacterium-mediated Transformation of The Elite-Indica Rice Variety Komboka

Genetic transformation is crucial for both investigating gene functions and for engineering of crops to introduce new traits. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important model in plant research, since it is the staple food for more than half of the world's population. As a result, numerous transformation methods have been developed for both indica and japonica rice. Since breeders continuously develop new rice varieties, transformation protocols have to be adapted for each new variety. Here we provide an optimized transformation protocol with detailed tips and tricks for a new African variety Komboka using immature embryos. In Komboka, we obtained an apparent transformation rate of up to 48% for GUS/GFP reporter gene constructs using this optimized protocol. This protocol is also applicable for use with other elite indica rice varieties.

Freeze-dried phosphatidylcholine liposomes encapsulating various antioxidant extracts from natural waste as functional ingredients in surimi gels

Three antioxidant extracts (collagen hydrolysate, pomegranate peel extract, shrimp lipid extract) were encapsulated in soy phosphatidylcholine liposomes with the addition of glycerol. The particle size of the fresh liposomes ranged from 75.7 to 81.0 nm and zeta potential from -64.6 to -88.2 mV. Freeze-drying increased particle size (199-283 nm), and slightly decreased zeta potential. The lyophilized liposomes were incorporated in squid surimi gels at 10.5% concentration. An alternative functional formulation was also prepared by adding 2% of non-encapsulated bioactive extract. The gels were characterized in terms of colour, texture and oxidative stability (TBARS) after processing and also after frozen storage. The incorporation of the freeze-dried liposomes caused a slight decrease in gel strength and contributed to maintaining the stability of the gels during long-term frozen storage. The antioxidant properties of the bioactive extracts, liposomes and in vitro digested surimi gels were determined.

Effect of chemical composition and sonication procedure on properties of food-grade soy lecithin liposomes with added glycerol

The effect of two-step and five-step acetone washing of soybean lecithin (SL) on compositional properties of partially purified phosphatidylcholines (PW2 and PW5) was studied. Trace amounts of protein were detected in SL, PW2 and PW5, with a predominance of glutamic acid and aspartic acid. Increasing the number of acetone washing steps significantly reduced the total content of γ-, δ- and α-tocopherol. Similar reductions (≈90%) of neutral lipids were found in both PW2 and PW5, but the removal of free fatty acids was higher in PW5 than in PW2 (78% vs. 71%). Linoleic acid was the main constituent in both the neutral lipids and the phospholipid fractions of SL, PW2 and PW5, accounting for around 53-59% of total fatty acids; however, a considerable amount of it was removed by increasing the number of washing steps. All phospholipid classes were mostly concentrated in the first two-step washing of lecithin. Further washing increased the concentration of phosphatidylcholine (PC) in PW5, as compared to PW2. Glycerol-containing liposomes from PW2 and PW5 were produced using two different-intensity sonication procedures (method A: 120W, 5min; method B: 30W, 2min) using a probe-type sonicator (100mL volume suspension). Liposomes of soy lecithin and liposomes of PW5 without glycerol were also obtained by using strong sonication (method A). The liposomal dispersion with the highest purification and the stronger sonication was clearly distinguished from the others, both in particle size and in zeta potential. DSC results showed noticeable interference of glycerol in the membrane structure, but minimal changes in particle size and surface charge.

[Rectal irrigation and bowel decontamination for the prevention of postoperative enterocolitis in Hirschsprung's disease]

The object is to determine the utility of rectal irrigation (RI) and bowel decontamination for the prevention of postoperative enterocolitis in Hirschsprung's disease.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between 1978 and 2005, 37 patients underwent surgical treatment for Hirschsprung's disease. Group 1 (1978-1993): 19 patients, 17 with rectosigmoid or long segment disease, and 2 total colonic aganglionosis (TCA). No postoperative prevention was used. Group II (1994-2005): 18 patients, 11 with rectosigmoid or long segment disease, and 7 TCA. Postoperative rectal irrigation (RI) and bowel decontamination was used. The RI volume was at least 10 ml/kg body weight. It was initiated on postoperative day 10, once a day for two months in the short segments, extending to 1 or more years in patients with iloeocoloplasty. Bowel decontamination, with a duration similar to the RI, was with metronidazol, gentamicin, or nistatin alternatingly. The incidence of enterocolitis, and the morbidity and mortality were evaluated in both groups.

RESULTS

In Group I, 9 patients (47%) developed postoperative enterocolitis; 1 patient, with serious preoperative enterocolitis, required digestive rest for 10 days, with parenteral feeding and intravenous antibiotics. The 2 TCA patients, one treated by the L. Martin technique, and the other, with Down's syndrome, by the Kimura technique, suffered recurrent episodes of enterocolitis, with hospitalization, intravenous antibiotic therapy, and RI. In Group I, there were 2 deaths, one related to the postoperative enterocolitis. In Group II, each of 2 patients (11%) with TCA treated by Boley-type ileocoloplasty, with preoperative enterocolitis, had 1 episode of enterocolitis during treatment; one had a further episode after suspension of the treatment. Two patients of this group suffered enterocolitis before beginning the treatment. There was no mortality in this group.

CONCLUSIONS

Rectal irrigation and bowel decontamination significantly decreased the incidence and severity of enterocolitis in Hirschsprung's disease by preventing faecal stasis and uncontrolled bacterial growth.

Construction of an efficient amylolytic industrial yeast strain containing DNA exclusively derived from yeast

An amylolytic industrial yeast strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae containing the Schwanniomyces occidentalis SWA2 amylase gene was generated. The new strain contains DNA derived exclusively from yeast and expresses a high starch hydrolyzing activity. Yeast transformation was carried out by an integrative process targeted to a dispensable upstream region of the ILV2 locus, which determines sulfometuron resistance. The SWA2 enzyme was constitutively expressed under the ADH1 promoter. The growth, substrate utilization and fermentative capacity of this organism are described.

Mitoxantrone, etoposide, carboplatinum and ara-C combination therapy (MECA) in refractory and relapsed acute leukemia

The present study was undertaken to assess the feasibility, toxicity and antileukemic activity of sequential chemotherapy including mitoxantrone, etoposide, carboplatin and intermediate-dose cytarabine in adult patients with refractory and relapsed acute myelogenous (AML) or lymphoid (ALL) leukemia. Fifty-one patients with poor-risk AML and ALL received 64 courses of MECA therapy. The overall response in the entire group was 51% (43% complete remission). The stage of the disease (relapsed or primarily refractory) and the age of the patients did not strongly affect the response rate. MECA therapy was more effective in ALL than in AML, and in those patients who presented at salvage treatment with a bone marrow infiltration lower than 25% blasts. Hematological and extra-hematological toxicities were tolerable and there were 6 deaths related to the treatment (11%). The incidence of documented infectious episodes was 71%. MECA therapy is a safe treatment and has a high antileukemic activity in relapsed and primarily refractory AML or ALL.

Noninvasive mechanical ventilation in a patient with respiratory failure after hematopoietic progenitor transplantation

Respiratory failure requiring orotracheal intubation (OTI) and mechanical ventilation (MV) is almost always a fatal complication in patients who undergo hematopoietic progenitor transplantation (HPT). We present the case of a woman who suffered respiratory failure with bilateral infiltrates on a chest X-ray taken on day +14 following autologous bone marrow transplantation. We managed the patient satisfactorily with noninvasive ventilation, avoiding OTI. We believe that patients with non-progressive pulmonary lesions and without multiple system organ failure, may be correctly managed with noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV).

Interactions of surface-confined DNA with acid-activated mitomycin C

The anti-cancer drug mitomycin C (MC) was acid-activated and its interaction with single-stranded calf thymus DNA, immobilized at the surface of the hanging mercury drop electrode (DNA-modified HMDE) was studied by cyclic voltammetry. It was found that immersion of the DNA-modified electrode in a solution of acid-activated MC (at pH 3.9) for a short time (usually 1 min) at open current circuit, followed by transfer of the electrode in a neutral blank background electrolyte, resulted in a decrease of the anodic peak G (due to guanine residues in DNA) and in the formation of a reversible couple at approx. -0.44 V. The potential of the cathodic peak was approx. 50 mV more negative than the cathodic peak of the acid-activated MC obtained under the same conditions in the absence of DNA. No changes of peak G occurred and only a very small cathodic peak appeared if the DNA-modified electrode was immersed in an MC solution not exposed to acid pH. On the basis of these results and additional experiments, including dependence on concentration, time and pH during the interaction of MC with DNA at the electrode surface, we concluded that acid-activated MC is covalently bound to guanine residues in DNA immobilized at the electrode surface and that the quinone group in the DNA-MC adduct is reversibly reduced at the electrode.

Engraftment syndrome and survival after respiratory failure post-bone marrow transplantation

Respiratory failure (RF) requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) is a frequent, critical complication of bone marrow transplantation. RF has a global survival rate at 6 months of between 2 and 5%, depending on the patient group. Recently, a type of RF associated with hemoperipheric recovery has been described. This is known as engraftment syndrome. We have documented two cases of RF that follow the engraftment syndrome criteria and needed MV. Both patients had all the features identified for a bad prognosis described in the literature. Both are alive after being discharged from the hospital 20 months ago.

[Partial splenic embolization in the treatment of hypersplenism. Long-term results]

In order to assess long term evolution of partial splenic embolization (PSE), 21 patients with hypersplenism treated by this technique from January 1984 to December 1992 have been reviewed. Between 50 and 90% of the splenic parenchyma was embolized in these patients. The follow-up period ranged between 12 and 103 months (mean = 32 months). Remaining splenic tissue was evaluated through sequential hematologic, ultrasonic and gammagraphic studies. After one year post-embolization white blood cells and platelets showed normal values. Five years later the mean values for these two parameters was lower but within the normal range. The mean reduction of splenic mass as estimated by ultrasound and gamma graphic studies was of 40% at one year and 17% at five years. Our results show that SPE can control hypersplenism, specially during the first years, but there is a tendency to a decrease in the leucocyte and platelet counts after five years. A regeneration of the splenic mass occurs in the long run after embolization. In our patients a relation between splenic regeneration and hypersplenism could not be demonstrated.

[A multicenter study of the breaking of the smoking habit with nicotine chewing gum in health personnel]

BACKGROUND

The health professionals have a leading role in the reduction of the smoking prevalence. Spain has one of the big rate of "per capita" tobacco consumption in the world, and the Spanish doctors have the biggest prevalence of smokers among their colleagues from the EEC countries.

METHODS

The effectiveness of a stop smoking programme in health care professionals was evaluated. This programme combined group therapy, nicotine chewing gum and behavioural assistance through the evaluation of CO contained in expired breath; and it is being applied with good results between the smokers of general population in Spain. A total of 211 voluntary smokers working in Spanish six general hospitals were treated, from those 149 (71%) were physicians and nurses (PS) and 62 (29%) others professionals without sanitary responsibilities (PNA).

RESULTS

At one year follow-up, 64 (30%) were not smoking, and the P.S. had a higher rate of give up than the PNA (p less than 0.05). Specifically the women of P.S. obtained a greater issue than the women of PNA (p less than 0.05). Both, nicotine chewing gum and behavioural assistance were as effective as usual in smoking cessation programme like this, in our country.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the outcome is lower than the obtained with the same approaches in smokers from general population, the better results of the PS than the PNA imply a good change of attitude of them. Specially the women PS obtained a big success, and this is outstanding in this group with a great prevalence of smokers, increasing in the recent years. The subjects who give up smoking increased their corporal weight less than the observed in smokers of the general population, who also give up with this treatment.