Genome-wide identification and functional prediction of silicon (Si) transporters in poplar (Populus trichocarpa)

Hassan Md Mahmudul,Martin Samir,Feng Kai,Yates Timothy B.,Yuan Guoliang,Martin Madhavi Z.,Martin Stanton,Muchero Wellington,Griffiths Natalie A.,Weston David J.,Yang Xiaohan 한국식물생명공학회 2023 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.17 No.2

Silicon (Si) enhances plant tolerance to various biotic and abiotic stressors such as salinity, drought, and heat. In addition, Si can be biomineralized within plants to form organic carbon-containing phytoliths that can have ecosystem-level consequences by contributing to long-term carbon sequestration. Si is taken up and transported in plants via different transporter proteins such as influx transporters (e.g., Lsi1, Lsi6) and efflux transporters (e.g., Lsi2). Additionally, the imported Si can be deposited in plant leaves via silicification process using the Siliplant 1 (e.g., Slp1) protein. Functional homologs of these proteins have been reported in different food crops. Here, we performed a genome-wide analysis to identify different Si transporters and Slp1 homologs in the bioenergy crop poplar (Populus trichocarpa Torr. and A. Gray ex W. Hook). We identified one channel-type Si influx transporter (PtLsi1; Potri.017G083300), one Si efflux transporter (PtLsi2; Potri.012G144000) and two proteins like Slp1 (PtSlp1a; Potri.004G168600 and PtSlp1b; Potri.009G129900) in the P. trichocarpa genome. We found a unique sequence (KPKPPVFKPPPVPI) in PtSlp1a which is repeated six times. Repeated presence of this sequence in PtSlp1a indicates that this protein might be important for silicification processes in P. trichocarpa. The mutation profiles of different Si transporters in a P. trichocarpa genome-wide association study population identified significant and impactful mutations in Potri.004G168600 and Potri.009G129900. Using a publically accessible database (http://bar.utoronto.ca/eplant_poplar/), digital expression analysis of the putative Si transporters in P. trichocarpa found low to moderate expression in the anticipated tissues, such as roots and leaves. Subcellular localization analysis found that PtLsi1/PtLsi2 are localized in the plasma membrane, whereas PtSlp1a/PtSlp1b are found in the extracellular spaces. Protein–Protein interaction analysis of PtLsi1/PtLsi2 identified Delta-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS) as one of the main interacting partners of PtLsi2, which plays a key role in proline biosynthesis. Proline is a well-known participant in biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in plants. These findings will reinforce future efforts to modify Si accumulation for enhancing plant stress tolerance and carbon sequestration in poplar.

Prevalence of Benign Diseases Mimicking Lung Cancer: Experience from a University Hospital of Southern Brazil

Homrich, Gustavo Kohler,Andrade, Cristiano Feijo,Marchiori, Roseane Cardoso,Dos Santos Lidtke, Grazielli,Martins, Fabio Pacheco,Dos Santos, Jose Wellington Alves The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory 2015 Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Vol.78 No.2

Background: Lung cancer is the most lethal type of cancer in the world. Several benign lung diseases may mimic lung carcinoma in its clinical and radiological presentation, which makes the differential diagnosis for granulomatous diseases more relevant in endemic regions like Brazil. This study was designed to describe the prevalence and the diagnostic work-up of benign diseases that mimic primary lung cancer in patients hospitalized at a university hospital from south of Brazil. Methods: This was a transversal study, which evaluated the medical records of 1,056 patients hospitalized for lung cancer treatment from September 2003 to September 2013 at University Hospital of Santa Maria. Results: Eight hundred and four patients underwent invasive procedures for suspected primary lung carcinoma. Primary lung cancer was confirmed in 77.4% of the patients. Benign disease was confirmed in 8% of all patients. Tuberculosis (n=14) and paracoccidioidomycosis (n=9) were the most frequent infectious diseases. The diagnosis of benign diseases was obtained by flexible bronchoscopy in 55.6% of the cases and by thoracotomy in 33.4%. Conclusion: Infectious diseases are the most frequent benign diseases mimicking lung cancer at their initial presentation. Many of these cases could be diagnosed by minimally invasive procedures such as flexible bronchoscopy. Benign diseases should be included in the differential diagnosis during the investigation for primary lung cancer in order to avoid higher cost procedures and mortality.

Reference values for the cervical length measurement in the second trimester of pregnancy using the transvaginal ultrasound in a large Brazilian population

( Alberto Borges Peixoto ),( Taciana Mara Rodrigues Da Cunha Caldas ),( Ana Helena Bittencourt Alamy ),( Wellington P. Martins ),( Rafael Frederico Bruns ),( Edward Araujo Junior ) 대한산부인과학회 2016 Obstetrics & Gynecology Science Vol.59 No.4

To establish reference values for the cervical length (CL) measurement by transvaginal ultrasound between 20 and 24+6 weeks of gestation in a large Brazilian population. A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed with 996 singleton pregnancies. The CL measurement (mm) using the transvaginal ultrasound was obtained in a sagittal view and the calipers positioned to measure the linear distance between the triangular area of echodensity at the external os and the internal os. The median±standard deviation and ranges for the CL measurement (mm) was 37.0±10.7 (range, 8 to 51). CL measurement did not modify significantly with gestational age. The observed percentiles for the CL measurement (mm) considering all number case were the following: 5th, 28 mm; 50th, 37 mm; and 95th, 45 mm. Reference values for the CL measurement by transvaginal ultrasound between 20 and 24+6 weeks of gestation in a large heterogeneous Brazilian population were established.

Second trimester cervical length measurement for prediction spontaneous preterm birth in an unselected risk population

( Alberto Borges Peixoto ),( Taciana Mara Rodrigues Da Cunha Caldas ),( Luisa Almeida Tahan ),( Caetano Galvao Petrini ),( Wellington P Martins ),( Fabricio Da Silva Costa ),( Edward Araujo Junior ) 대한산부인과학회 2017 Obstetrics & Gynecology Science Vol.60 No.4

Objective To assess the predictive capacity of cervical length (CL) measurement underwent during the second trimester ultrasound for prediction preterm birth <32, 34, and 37 weeks of gestation in an unselected risk population. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed with 751 singleton pregnancies between 20 and 24+6 weeks of gestation. The CL measurement (mm) using the transvaginal route was obtained in a sagittal view and the calipers positioned to measure the linear distance between the triangular area of echodensity at the external os and the internal os. To compare the preterm (<37 weeks) and term births (≥37 weeks), we used unpaired t test. We assessed whether the CL measurement was dependent of gestational age by performing a linear regression and assessing the coefficient of determination (R²). We additionally assessed the accuracy of CL measurement to predict preterm birth by assessing the area under receiver operating characteristics curves with its respective confidence intervals (CIs) 95%. Results Preterm birth <37 weeks was found in 13.6% (102/751) of pregnant women. Short cervix (≤25 mm) was found in 2.7% (20/751) of pregnancies. Only 30% (6/20) of pregnant women with short cervix have used progesterone to prevent preterm birth. There was a weak correlation between CL measurement and gestational age at delivery (R2=0.01, P=0.002). Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis of the ability of CL measurement to predict preterm birth <32, 34, and 37 weeks, showed an area under the curve of 0.693 (95% CI, 0.512 to 0.874), 0.472 (95% CI, 0.353 to 0.591), 0.490 (95% CI, 0.426 to 0.555), respectively. Conclusion There was a weak correlation between CL measurement and gestational age at delivery. In an unselected population, CL measurement screening at 20 to 24+6 weeks of gestation does not seem to be a good predictor of preterm birth.

Prevalence of Benign Diseases Mimicking Lung Cancer: Experience from a University Hospital of Southern Brazil

( Gustavo Kohler Homrich ),( Cristiano Feijo Andrade ),( Roseane Cardoso Marchiori ),( Grazielli Dos Santos Lidtke ),( Fabio Pacheco Martins ),( Jose Wellington Alves Dos Santos ) 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 2015 Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Vol.78 No.2

Background: Lung cancer is the most lethal type of cancer in the world. Several benign lung diseases may mimic lung carcinoma in its clinical and radiological presentation, which makes the differential diagnosis for granulomatous diseases more relevant in endemic regions like Brazil. This study was designed to describe the prevalence and the diagnostic work-up of benign diseases that mimic primary lung cancer in patients hospitalized at a university hospital from south of Brazil. Methods: This was a transversal study, which evaluated the medical records of 1,056 patients hospitalized for lung cancer treatment from September 2003 to September 2013 at University Hospital of Santa Maria. Results: Eight hundred and four patients underwent invasive procedures for suspected primary lung carcinoma. Primary lung cancer was confirmed in 77.4% of the patients. Benign disease was confirmed in 8% of all patients. Tuberculosis (n=14) and paracoccidioidomycosis (n=9) were the most frequent infectious diseases. The diagnosis of benign diseases was obtained by flexible bronchoscopy in 55.6% of the cases and by thoracotomy in 33.4%. Conclusion: Infectious diseases are the most frequent benign diseases mimicking lung cancer at their initial presentation. Many of these cases could be diagnosed by minimally invasive procedures such as flexible bronchoscopy. Benign diseases should be included in the differential diagnosis during the investigation for primary lung cancer in order to avoid higher cost procedures and mortality.

The impact of first-trimester intrauterine hematoma on adverse perinatal outcomes

Alberto Borges Peixoto,Edward Araujo Júnior,Taciana Mara Rodrigues da Cunha Caldas,Caetano Galvão Petrini,Ana Cecília Palma Romero,Luciano Eliziário Borges Júnior,Wellington P. Martins 대한초음파의학회 2018 ULTRASONOGRAPHY Vol.37 No.4

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the presence of an intrauterinehematoma (IUH) on an early pregnancy ultrasound scan showing a live fetus was related toadverse perinatal outcomes. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study to evaluate pregnant women whounderwent an ultrasound examination in early pregnancy, between 6 weeks 0 days and 10weeks 6 days. We compared the perinatal outcomes between women with and without firsttrimester IUH using the Mann-Whitney and Fisher exact tests. Furthermore, we performed astepwise regression analysis to identify possible predictors of miscarriage among maternalcharacteristics, ultrasound parameters, and IUH. Results: During the study period, data from 783 pregnancies were included, and the incidence ofIUH was 4.5% (35 of 783). We observed a higher proportion of miscarriage following the scan(28.6% vs. 10%, P=0.003) and a larger yolk sac diameter during the scan (4.8 mm vs. 3.8 mm,P<0.001) in the pregnant women with first-trimester IUH. There was no significant differenceregard the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW; P=0.091), very LBW (P=0.370), or extremelyLBW (P=0.600) between cases with IUH and without IUH, the cesarean section rate (68% vs. 81%, P=0.130), preterm delivery (16% vs. 16%, P>0.999), or the incidence of first-trimestervaginal bleeding (31% vs. 20%, P=0.130). Moreover, heart rate (HR) was the only variable thatpredicted miscarriage with statistical significance (P=0.017). Conclusion: Women with first-trimester IUH had a higher risk of miscarriage after the ultrasoundscan. HR was the only variable that predicted miscarriage with statistical significance.