Expression in rice of an autoactive variant of Medicago truncatula DMI3, the Ca+2/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase from the common symbiotic pathway modifies root transcriptome and improves mycorrhizal colonization

Marlene Ortiz-Berrocal,Luis Lozano,Alejandro Sanchez-Flores,Noreide Nava,Georgina Herna´ndez,Pallavolu M. Reddy 한국식물생명공학회 2017 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.11 No.5

Rice is the principle staple food for more than half of humankind. Frequently, productivity of rice is affected by low nitrogen in the soil and hence, for enhanced rice production it heavily relies on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers that beget economic and ecological costs. In this context, the interest in transferring legumelike biological nitrogen fixation capability to rice has increased lately. The rice-arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is mediated by genes that are orthologous to legume-genes known to be essential constituents of the common symbiotic pathway (CSP) that facilitates the establishment of both rhizobial nitrogen fixation- and AMsymbioses in legumes. Particularly, DMI3 (Ca?2/- calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine protein kinase, CCaMK), a component of the CSP, was found to play a paramount role in promoting the development of both types of symbioses. In fact, expression of autoactive version of DMI3 was shown to be sufficient to trigger downstream developmental processes leading to the induction of spontaneous nodulation in the absence of rhizobia. Hence, in the present investigation, we expressed in transgenic rice a gain-of-function Medicago truncatula DMI3T271D gene (gofMtDMI3) and assessed if legume-like symbiotic responses can be mimicked in rice roots. Ectopic expression of gofMtDMI3 in common bean induced spontaneous nodulation in the roots in the absence of rhizobia, but in rice plants it did not produce any such legume-like nodular manifestations. Conversely, the expression of gofMtDMI3 supported elevated AM colonization in rice roots that could improve plant nutrition/growth. In addition, gofMtDMI3 expression induced higher transcript levels of the CSP orthologues OsDMI3, OsIPD3 and OsNSP1, as well as triggered changes in the expression of several genes involved in biotic and abiotic stress responses. Our results with gofMtDMI3 lay the basis for the potential development of a biotechnological approach towards improvement of rice production.

Uses of cone-beam computed tomography in San José, Costa Rica

Barba, Lucia,Berrocal, Ana Luisa,Hidalgo, Alejandro Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology 2018 Imaging Science in Dentistry Vol.48 No.2

Purpose: To analyze cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) use, indications, and exposure parameters in San $Jos{\acute{e}}$, Costa Rica. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed. All CBCT examinations over a period of 6 months at 2 radiological centers in San $Jos{\acute{e}}$, Costa Rica were evaluated. The examinations were performed with Veraview EPOC X550 and Veraviewepocs 3D R100 equipment. The patients' age and sex, clinical indication for CBCT, region of interest (ROI), repeat examinations, specialty of the referring dentist, field-of-view (FOV), tube voltage (kV), tube current (mA), and radiation dose (${\mu}Gy$) were evaluated. Patients were classified by age as children (${\leq}12years$), adolescents(13-18 years), and adults(${\geq}19years$). Results: The mean age of the 526 patients was 49.4 years. The main indications were implant dentistry and dental trauma. The most frequent ROIs were posterior, while anterior ROIs were much less common. The highest percentage of repeat examinations was in children. Fifty-six percent of the referring dentists were specialists. The most commonly used FOV was small. The mean tube voltage and current were 79.8 kV and 7.4 mA for Veraview EPOC X550 and 89.9 kV and 6 mA for Veraviewepocs 3D R100, respectively. The mean doses for children, adolescents, and adults were $6.9{\mu}Gy$, $8.4{\mu}Gy$, and $7.8{\mu}Gy$, respectively. Conclusion: Although CBCT was most commonly used in adults for implant dentistry, most repeat examinations were in children, and the highest mean dose was in adolescents. Additional dose optimization efforts should be made by introducing low-dose protocols for children and adolescents.

Uses of cone-beam computed tomography in San José, Costa Rica

Lucía Barba,Ana Luisa Berrocal,Alejandro Hidalgo 대한영상치의학회 2018 Imaging Science in Dentistry Vol.48 No.2

Purpose: To analyze cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) use, indications, and exposure parameters in San José, Costa Rica. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed. All CBCT examinations over a period of 6 months at 2 radiological centers in San José, Costa Rica were evaluated. The examinations were performed with Veraview EPOC X550 and Veraviewepocs 3D R100 equipment. The patients’ age and sex, clinical indication for CBCT, region of interest (ROI), repeat examinations, specialty of the referring dentist, field-of-view (FOV), tube voltage (kV), tube current (mA), and radiation dose (μGy) were evaluated. Patients were classified by age as children (≤12 years), adolescents (13-18 years), and adults (≥19 years). Results: The mean age of the 526 patients was 49.4 years. The main indications were implant dentistry and dental trauma. The most frequent ROIs were posterior, while anterior ROIs were much less common. The highest percentage of repeat examinations was in children. Fifty-six percent of the referring dentists were specialists. The most commonly used FOV was small. The mean tube voltage and current were 79.8 kV and 7.4 mA for Veraview EPOC X550 and 89.9 kV and 6 mA for Veraviewepocs 3D R100, respectively. The mean doses for children, adolescents, and adults were 6.9 μGy, 8.4 μGy, and 7.8 μGy, respectively. Conclusion: Although CBCT was most commonly used in adults for implant dentistry, most repeat examinations were in children, and the highest mean dose was in adolescents. Additional dose optimization efforts should be made by introducing low-dose protocols for children and adolescents.

Mechanical Properties of 30 Year-Old Naturally Corroded Steel Reinforcing Bars

Ignasi Fernandez,Carlos G. Berrocal 한국콘크리트학회 2019 International Journal of Concrete Structures and M Vol.13 No.1

The present paper investigates the mechanical response of more than 120 corroded reinforcing bars extracted from a real bridge after 30 years in service. Corrosion was quantified using gravimetric and 3D-laser scanning measurements. An expression to relate the average and critical corrosion levels was found, the latter being the main parameter governing the capacity of corroded bars. Whereas the strength of the material was not affected by corrosion, the ultimate strain decreased sharply. However, strains were not only affected by cross-sectional reduction but also by the shape of the critical pit and necking at failure.

Usefulness of Pharmacogenetic Analysis in Psychiatric Clinical Practice: A Case Report

Manuel A. Franco-Martin,Francisco Sans,Belen García-Berrocal,Cristina Blanco,Carlos Llanes-Alvarez,María Isidoro-García 대한정신약물학회 2018 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.16 No.3

There are many factors involved in the effectiveness and efficiency of psychiatric drug treatment. One of them is psychotropic drug metabolism, which takes place mostly in the liver through the P450 enzyme system. However, there are genotypic variants of this system’s enzymes that can directly affect both the efficacy and the onset of side effects of a given therapeutic regimen. These genotypic changes could partly explain the lack of efficacy of treatment in certain patients. We report the case of a patient diagnosed with bipolar type I disorder that presented multiple and frequent manic episodes in which the efficacy and tolerability of several pharmacological regimens with mood stabilizers and antipsychotics was scarce. The choice of medical treatment should be based on its efficacy and side effect profile. This decision can be made more accurately using the information provided by pharmacogenetic analysis. This case illustrates the importance of pharmacogenetic studies in clinical practice. The results of pharmacogenetic analysis helped to decide on a better treatment plan to achieve clinical improvement and reduce drug-induced adverse effects.