Germinación de semillas de Crescentia alata (Bignoniaceae) en distintas condiciones de temperatura, luminosidad y almacenamiento

Crescentia alata (Bignoniaceae) es una especie arborescente de gran interés cultural y económico desde México hasta Costa Rica. Sin embargo, la protección de las poblaciones naturales y el establecimiento de plantaciones son limitados por la carencia de información sobre germinación de semillas y crecimiento de plántulas. Este estudio pretende caracterizar los frutos y las semillas, evaluar el proceso de germinación a diferentes temperaturas y niveles de luminosidad, y determinar las condiciones óptimas de temperatura, humedad y almacenamiento para mantener viables las semillas. Se midieron altura, diámetro y masa de frutos, así como largo, ancho y masa de semillas; además, se contó el número de semillas por fruto. Asimismo, se evaluó el porcentaje de germinación a cinco temperaturas (15, 20, 30, 20-30 y 25-30 °C), en condiciones de luz-oscuridad, con almacenamiento a tres temperaturas (5° C, 15 °C y ambiente: 22-24 °C) durante 36 meses. También se observó la viabilidad de las semillas conservadas dentro del fruto. El valor promedio del índice de redondez (IR) fue -1.86; esto indica que los frutos son redondeado-achatados. En promedio el fruto midió 7.90 ± 2.58 cm de altura y 9.62 ± 1.21 cm de diámetro; las semillas midieron 0.75 ± 0.07 cm de largo y 0.67 ± 0.05 cm de ancho. La masa promedio del fruto fue 414.57 g y cada fruto tuvo en promedio ca. 691 semillas, que no germinaron a 15 °C ni a 20 °C; en la oscuridad disminuyó la germinación y la viabilidad de las semillas se redujo cuando se almacenaron a temperatura ambiente (22-24 °C) y cuando permanecieron dentro del fruto. Los resultados indican que las semillas de C. alata germinan mejor a 30 °C, en condiciones de luz y separadas de la pulpa del fruto antes de almacenarse; además, almacenadas a temperaturas bajas (5 °C y 15 °C) los porcentajes de germinación y la viabilidad se mantienen altos (ca. 90 %) hasta por tres años. Estos datos pueden contribuir a mejorar el almacenamiento de semillas y la obtención de plántulas para propagación; así podría aumentar el tamaño de las poblaciones con fines económicos o de conservación, lo que favorecería tanto a la especie estudiada como al bosque tropical seco en que habita.

Crescentia alata is a natural resource with cultural and economic value from Mexico to Costa Rica. Nevertheless, protection of natural populations and establishment of plantations are limited by lack of information on seed germination and plant growth. This study aims to characterize size, weight and number of fruits and seeds, to evaluate the seed germination process at different temperatures and light conditions, and to determine the optimal conditions of temperature, humidity, and storage periods for viable seeds. We measured germination at five different temperatures (15, 20, 30, 20-30, and 25-30 °C), in light-dark conditions, with seed storage at three temperatures (5 °C, 15 °C, and ambient temperature: 22-24 °C) during 36 months. Mean values: fruit roundness index -1.86 (i.e. they are flattened-rounded). Fruit height 7.90 ± 2.58 cm, diameter 9.62 ± 1.21 cm; seeds were 0.75 ± 0.07 cm long and 0.67 ± 0.05 cm wide. Fruit mass 414.57 g; each fruit contained on average ca. 691 seeds. Seeds did not germinate at 15 °C or 20 °C; germination decreased in darkness; germination and viability decreased when seeds were stored at ambient temperature (22-24 °C), and when they were preserved inside fruits. The seeds of C. alata germinate better at 30 °C, exposed to light, and separated from the pulp before storage. When seeds are stored at low temperatures (5 °C and 15 °C), high germination and viability percentages (ca. 90 %) can be maintained for three years, allowing conservation programs for the species.

Índice de redondez corporal como indicador antropométrico para identificar riesgo de síndrome metabólico en médicos del hospital San Francisco del IESS, en la ciudad de Quito / Body roundness index as an anthropometric indicator to identify risk of metabolic syndrome in physicians of the San Francisco hospital of the IESS, in the city of Quito

Contexto: las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles revisten interés para la salud pública; algunas de ellas pueden detectarse y predecirse mediante estudios básicos como es la antropometría. El índice de masa corporal (IMC) valora, estratifica y clasifica el nivel de sobrepeso del individuo como factor de riesgo de síndrome metabólico (SM), sin discriminar entre masa muscular y adiposidad que puede dilucidarse mediante el índice de redondez corporal (IRC) y predecir tanto el porcentaje de grasa corporal y el estado de salud. Barazzoni y colaboradores relacionaron tanto al IRC e IMC con el síndrome metabólico; sobre esta relación existen contados estudios, algunos controversiales. Objetivo: demostrar la utilidad del IRC para identificar factores de riesgo de síndrome metabólico y correlacionarlo con el Índice de masa corporal para establecer la utilidad clínica como indicador de riesgo metabólico. Sujetos y métodos: estudio epidemiológico observacional descriptivo transversal de con- junto, en una muestra de 90 médicos del Hospital San Francisco de Quito. Perteneciente al Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social. Mediciones principales: estado nutricional según peso, talla, circunferencia abdominal; diagnóstico de síndrome metabólico según «guía para el tratamiento de dislipidemias en adultos¼ (Adult Treatment Panel III). Resultados: el 16,67% (IC95% 10,37­25,69%) de sujetos fueron diagnosticados con SM de- mostrándose similar resultado usando IMC e IRC para establecer la condición de SM según criterios diagnósticos del ATPIII (p<0,05). La exactitud del IMC como predictor de riesgo de SM fue 62% y 30% de precisión; para IRC, la exactitud fue 42%, sensibilidad del 23% y 100% de valor predictivo negativo. Conclusión: la prevalencia de síndrome metabólico en médicos es alta. El IRC es útil para el diagnóstico de SM, sin embargo, su mayor aplicación es para descartar su diagnóstico, comparado con el IMC. Se recomienda nuevos estudios.

Contex: Chronic non-communicable diseases are of interest to public health; some of them can be detected and predicted through basic studies such as anthropometry. The body mass index (BMI) assesses, stratifies and classifies the individual's level of overweight as a risk factor for metabolic syndrome (MS), without discriminating between muscle mass and adiposi- ty that can be elucidated by means of the body roundness index (BRI) and predict both body fat percentage and health status. Barazzoni and collaborators related both IRC and BRI with metabolic syndrome; about this relationship there are few studies, some controversial. Objective: to demonstrate the usefulness of the BRI to identify risk factors for metabolic syndrome and correlate it with the body mass index to establish clinical utility as an indica tor of metabolic risk. Subjects and methods: Cross-sectional descriptive observational epidemiological study, in a sample of 90 doctors from the San Francisco Hostpital of Quito (Ecuadorian Social Security Institute). Main measurements: nutritional status according to weight, height, abdominal circumference; diagnosis of metabolic syndrome according to "guide for the treatment of dyslipidemias in adults" (Adult Treatment Panel III). Results: 16.67% (95% CI 10.37­25.69%) of subjects were diagnosed with MS demonstrating a similar result using BMI and BRI to establish the condition of MS according to diagnostic criteria of ATPIII (p <0.05). The accuracy of the BMI as a predictor of MS risk was 62% and 30% accuracy; for IRC, the accuracy was 42%, sensitivity 23% and 100% negative predictive value. Conclusions: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in doctors is high. The BRI is useful for the diagnosis of MS, however, its greatest application is to rule out its diagnosis, compared to the BMI. New studies are recommended.

Effects of femtosecond laser-assisted anterior capsulotomy versus manual continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis on intraocular lens centration / 眼科新进展

Objective To assess the effects of femtosecond laser-assisted anterior capsulotomy versus manual continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis on intraocular lens (IOL) centration by measuring and comparing shape,size and positional parameters.Methods Eighty cases (80 eyes) with age-related cataract from March 2015 to July 2016 in our hospital were collected.Forty patients (40 eyes) in the femtosecond group underwent femtosecond laser anterior capsulotomy and 40 patients (40 eyes) in the annular group were treated with annular continuous capsulorhexis.At postoperative 1 week,1 month,1 year,the slit lamp digital photography and Pentacam anterior segment analyzer were used to collect the anterior segment images,and the parameters include horizontal and vertical diameter,roundness,package and partial centre of IOL were analyzed by image analysis software image-pro-plus 6.0.Using repeated measurement of variance analysis,Fisher exact probability,and Generalized estimation equations (GEE),the differences between parameters of the groups and IOL decentration predictor were analyzed.Results The vertical diameter,roundness,maximum distance,minimum distance,package and horizontal deviation were statistically significant between the femtosecond group and the annular group at 1 week and 1 month after operation (all P ＜ 0.05),and there was no significant difference in horizontal diameter and vertical deviation between two groups (all P ＞ 0.05).At 1 year after operation,the maximum distance,minimum distance,package and horizontal deviation between two groups were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in vertical and horizontal diameter,roundness,and vertical deviation between two groups (all P ＞ 0.05).There was no patient with horizontal shift ＞ 0.4 mm in the femtosecond group at 1 week,1 month and 1 year;The ratio of cases with horizontal shift ＞0.4 mm and ＜0.4 mm in the annular group at 1 week,1 month and 1 year were 2/38,4/36,8/32,respectively.There was significant difference in the horizontal shift ＞ 0.4 nun between the two groups after 1 year(P ＜ 0.05).In the univariate generalized estimating equation model,the capsulorhexis type was a significant predictor of horizontal shift.Of all the capsulorhexis parameters,the difference of inclusion degree was statistically significant (P =0.001).There was negative correlation between the horizontal shift and package at different time points in the femtosecond group at 1 week,1 month and 1 year (r =-0.89,P ＜ 0.05;r =-0.72,P ＜ 0.05;r =-0.58,P ＜ 0.05);There was negative correlation between the horizontal shift and package at different time points in the annular group at 1 week(r =-0.68,P ＜ 0.05),but no correlation at 1 month and 1 year (r=-0.41,P＞0.05;r=-0.33,P＞0.05).Conclusion The anterior capsule made by femtosecond laser anterior capsulotomy is more round,centered and accurate,pocket IOL position is more stabled and neutral.

Significance of measuring roundness of gastric gland lumens in differential diagnosis of well-differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma / 中华消化杂志

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of computer image analysis assisted aroundness measurement of gastric gland lumens in well-differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma.Methods From January 2016 to July 2016,10 hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) stained slides of pathologically diagnosed well-differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma were collected.At the same period,H-E stained slides of gastric epithelial hyperplasia and normal gastric mucosa,six slides of each,were collected as controls.All of them were scanned into high resolution.Digital data roundness,long diameter and short diameter were measured and compared.Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test was used for statistical analysis.Results The median values of lumen roundness of normal gastric mucosa,gastric epithelial hyperplasia and welldifferentiated gastric adenocarcinoma were 79.7°(10.6°),73.0°(12.3°) and 58.6°(15.2°),respectively,and the difference among three groups was statistically significant (H=494.827,P＜0.01).The values of gland roundness of normal gastric mucosa were higher than those of gastric mucosal hyperplasia and welldifferentiated gastric adenocarcinoma,and the differences were statistically significant (T=156.007 and -508.579,both P＜0.01).The value of gland roundness of gastric mucosal hyperplasia was higher than that of well-differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma,and the difference was statistically significant (T=-352.572,P＜0.01).The values of long diameter of gland lumens in normal gastric mucosa,gastric mucosal hyperplasia and well-differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma were 24.1 μm(11.8 μm),43.1 μm (28.8 μm),and 96.0 μm(79.3 μm),respectively,and the difference among three groups was statistically significant (H=744.987,P＜0.01).The values of short diameter of gland lumens in normal gastric mucosa,gastric mucosal hyperplasia and well-differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma were 16.0 μm (8.7 μm),22.7 μm (13.1 μm) and 33.5 μm (38.0 μm),respectively,and the difference among three groups was statistically significant(H=248.170,P＜0.01).Conclusion The roundness of gastric gland lumens can be used as an effective parameter for the differential diagnosis of normal gastric mucosa,gastric mucosal hyperplasia and well-differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma.

Study on tripterin sustained-release dropping pills / 中草药

Objective: To prepare the Tripterin Sustained-release Dropping Pills (TSRDPs), investigate the disperse state and in vitro release, and optimize the preparation technology. Methods: The TSRDPs were prepared by solid dispersion method with PEG 4000 and glycerol monostearate (GM) as carrier materials. Orthogonal design was conducted to explore the influencing factors of the preparation technology by evaluating the indexes of roundness and weight difference. Results: The ideal condition of TSRDPs: the ratio of tripterin-GM-PEG 4000 was 1:3:7; the temperature of drug mixture was 80 °C; dropping speed was 20 d/min; dropping distance was 5 cm; and the condensate temperature was 15 °C. Tripterin existed as amorphous state in carriers. The maximum cumulative release amount of tripterin was 91.2% at 12 h. Conclusion: The prepared TSRDPs have a good sustained-release effect.

Uterine Roundness Index: Model Formulation and Nomogram for a Nigerian Population

This study was aimed to establish a nomogram for uterine roundness index (UTRI) for a Nigerian population. Seven hundred Nigerian girls and women in the premenarche; nulliparous; multiparous and postmenopausal groups with normal uteri were evaluated by pelvic ultrasound. The length; anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the uterus were measured and the UTRI calculated as the ratio of anteroposterior diameter to the length. The age; height; and parity of the subject were recorded. The mean UTRI +SD were 0.44457+0.0629 for premenarche; 0.5880+0.1118 for nulliparous; 0.6005+0.1046 for multiparous and 0.5269+0.1037 for postmenopausal. Pearson's correlation analysis showed significant correlation between UTRI and age; height and weight in premenarche group and weight in the nulliparous; multiparous and postmenopausal groups (p 0.05). Significant negative correlation between UTRI and age occurred only in the postmenopausal group (p 0.05). The study has established a nomogram for UTRI in a Nigeria population which will be of gynaecological importance to sonographers and referring clinicians in assessing the normality of uterine shapes and contour

Comparison of digital radiometric featuresbetween radicular cysts and periapical granulomas / 대한구강악안면방사선학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a radiometric analysis of radicular cysts and periapical granulomas is useful in the differential diagnosis. In this experiment, twenty-nine periapical radiographs of the radicular cyst and those periapical granuloma were used. The periapical radiography was taken by intraoral paralleling device. The X-ray film was digitized and digitally filtered to reduce film-grain noise. We estimated density difference of the inner/outer area, roundness or circularity, bone profile or scan line of the margin and cumulative percentage frequency curve of radicular cyst & periapical granuloma. The obtained results were as follows ; 1. The differences in density between ROIs of inner and outer area of radicular cysts were smaller than those of periapical granulomas. 2. The equivalent circular diameter was over 6.3mm, there was significant difference between periapical cyst and periapical granuloma. 3. In differential diagnosis of radicular cyst and periapical granuloma using bone profile, sensitivity, spicificity and accuracy were considerably high(0.83, 0.86, 0.86) respectively. 4. Cumulative percentage frequency curve of the radicular cyst was closer to the pseudo-pixel value of 50 than average curve, whereas periapical granuloma was closer to that of 0. Hence we conclude that digital radiometric features might be useful in the differential diagnosis between radicular cyst and periapical granuloma.

Encapsulation of Bupleurum dropping pill / 中成药

AIM: To establish the optimum preparation process for Bupleurum dropping pill. METHODS: A series of signal tests have been studied for the choice of substrate、 its proportion of substrate to drug、 the dropping and cooling agent temperature and dropping speed to make average pill weight,weight variation and roundness up to grade. RESULTS: The best pills formatting process were a ratio of PEG4000 to PEG6000(3∶1). CONCLUSION: This preparation method is suitable for both the laboratory test and the industrial production for Bupleurum dropping pill.