ABSTRACT
Caesalpinia echinata seeds stored in laboratory environmental conditions lose their viability in one month whilst under low temperatures germination is maintained for 18 months of storage. These seeds are tolerant to desiccation, keeping their viability up to 0.08 gH2O.gDW-1. Since soluble carbohydrates are believed to be involved with desiccation tolerance and seed storability, the aim of this work is to analyze the content and composition of soluble carbohydrates in C. echinata seeds during storage in paper bags (PB) and glass flasks (GF) at laboratory room (RT) and cool (CT) temperatures. In freshly harvested seeds, total soluble carbohydrates comprised approximately 10% of the dry weight, decreasing to ca. 8% over 18 months of storage at RT. In seeds stored at CT, sugars varied differently decreasing initially and being restored at the end of the analysis period. The main neutral sugars in seeds from all treatments were sucrose, fructose and glucose. Raffinose and stachyose were present as traces. Free myo-inositol and other cyclitols were also detected. The main tendency observed was the variation in levels of both glucose and fructose in relation to sucrose, the highest levels of monosaccharides which were found in seeds stored at CT. The values of glucose and fructose were practically constant in seeds stored in paper bags for 18 months at CT, decreasing consistently in the other treatments, mainly at RT. Sucrose contents remained relatively stable. Changes in soluble sugars during storage suggest that the loss of germinability of seeds of C. echinata could be associated with low levels of glucose and fructose in relation to sucrose.
Subject(s)
Caesalpinia , Carbohydrates/analysis , Germination/physiology , Preservation, Biological/methods , Seeds/chemistry , Brazil , Cryopreservation , Seeds/growth & development , Solubility , Temperature , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Sementes de Caesalpinia echinata (pau-brasil) perdem a viabilidade em um mês quando armazenadas no ambiente de laboratório, enquanto a capacidade germinativa é mantida quando armazenadas sob temperturas baixas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivos analisar o conteúdo e a composição dos carboidratos de sementes de C. echinata armazenadas em câmara fria (CT) e em temperatura ambiente do laboratório (RT), em duas embalagens distintas (permeável e impermeável), visando a avaliar o envolvimento desses compostos com a capacidade germinativa das sementes. Os resultados mostraram que os carboidratos solúveis são constituídos principalmente de sacarose, glicose, frutose, myo-inositol e traços de rafinose e estaquiose, totalizando cerca de 10% da massa seca das sementes. As variações nos carboidratos solúveis foram semelhantes nos dois tipos de embalagem, mas diferentes quanto à temperatura de armazenamento. Em CT, as proporções dos monossacarídeos encontradas nas sementes recém-colhidas foram mantidas por cerca de 18 meses de armazenamento, coincidindo com alta porcentagem de germinação (80%). Nas armazenadas em RT houve redução expressiva nas proporções de glicose e frutose e perda completa da germinabilidade. O conteúdo de sacarose se manteve relativamente estável durante todo o período de análise. Os resultados indicam que a perda da germinabilidade de sementes de C. echinata está associada à diminuição dos níveis de glicose e frutose em relação aos níveis de sacarose.
Subject(s)
Caesalpinia , Carbohydrates/analysis , Germination/physiology , Preservation, Biological/methods , Seeds/chemistry , Brazil , Cryopreservation , Solubility , Seeds/growth & development , Temperature , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Caesalpinia echinata seeds stored in laboratory environmental conditions lose their viability in one month whilst under low temperatures germination is maintained for 18 months of storage. These seeds are tolerant to desiccation, keeping their viability up to 0.08 gH2O.gDW-1. Since soluble carbohydrates are believed to be involved with desiccation tolerance and seed storability, the aim of this work is to analyze the content and composition of soluble carbohydrates in C. echinata seeds during storage in paper bags (PB) and glass flasks (GF) at laboratory room (RT) and cool (CT) temperatures. In freshly harvested seeds, total soluble carbohydrates comprised approximately 10% of the dry weight, decreasing to ca. 8% over 18 months of storage at RT. In seeds stored at CT, sugars varied differently decreasing initially and being restored at the end of the analysis period. The main neutral sugars in seeds from all treatments were sucrose, fructose and glucose. Raffinose and stachyose were present as traces. Free myo-inositol and other cyclitols were also detected. The main tendency observed was the variation in levels of both glucose and fructose in relation to sucrose, the highest levels of monosaccharides which were found in seeds stored at CT. The values of glucose and fructose were practically constant in seeds stored in paper bags for 18 months at CT, decreasing consistently in the other treatments, mainly at RT. Sucrose contents remained relatively stable. Changes in soluble sugars during storage suggest that the loss of germinability of seeds of C. echinata could be associated with low levels of glucose and fructose in relation to sucrose.
Sementes de Caesalpinia echinata (pau-brasil) perdem a viabilidade em um mês quando armazenadas no ambiente de laboratório, enquanto a capacidade germinativa é mantida quando armazenadas sob temperturas baixas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivos analisar o conteúdo e a composição dos carboidratos de sementes de C. echinata armazenadas em câmara fria (CT) e em temperatura ambiente do laboratório (RT), em duas embalagens distintas (permeável e impermeável), visando a avaliar o envolvimento desses compostos com a capacidade germinativa das sementes. Os resultados mostraram que os carboidratos solúveis são constituídos principalmente de sacarose, glicose, frutose, myo-inositol e traços de rafinose e estaquiose, totalizando cerca de 10% da massa seca das sementes. As variações nos carboidratos solúveis foram semelhantes nos dois tipos de embalagem, mas diferentes quanto à temperatura de armazenamento. Em CT, as proporções dos monossacarídeos encontradas nas sementes recém-colhidas foram mantidas por cerca de 18 meses de armazenamento, coincidindo com alta porcentagem de germinação (80%). Nas armazenadas em RT houve redução expressiva nas proporções de glicose e frutose e perda completa da germinabilidade. O conteúdo de sacarose se manteve relativamente estável durante todo o período de análise. Os resultados indicam que a perda da germinabilidade de sementes de C. echinata está associada à diminuição dos níveis de glicose e frutose em relação aos níveis de sacarose.
ABSTRACT
A intervilosite crónica massiva é uma patologia raras vezes diagnosticada na placenta, com uma incidência inferior a 0.5%. O exame histológico da placenta mostra uma infiltração massiva do espaço intervilositário por células inflamatórias, sem lesões de vilite crónica associadas. Estas alterações vão comprometer a função placentar originando um compromisso fetal que se manifesta sob a forma de atraso de crescimento fetal intra-uterino, parto pré-termo ou morte fetal. Descreve-se um caso clínico, ilustrativo deste tipo de patologia, referente a uma mulher de 31 anos, II gesta, O para, com antecedentes de morte fetal intra-uterina às 13 semanas de gestação em gravidez anterior, tendo registado na actual gravidez um valor elevado de alfa-feto-proteína às 16 semanas de gestação e morte fetal intra-uterina inesperada às 18 semanas. O exame histológico da placenta demonstrou a presença de uma intervilosite crónica massiva. Este caso realça, ainda, o valor do exame anátomo-patológico da placenta em todos os casos de morte fetal in-trauterina, e a sua importância para o diagnóstico da etiopatogenia e prognóstico de futuras gestações (AU)
La intervilositis crónica masiva es una patología de la placenta, raras veces diagnosticada, con una incidencia inferior al 0,5 0/0. El examen histológico de la placenta muestra una inflamación masiva del espacio intervillositario, por células inflamatorias, sin lesiones de vellosidades crónicas asociadas. Estas alteraciones van a comprometer la función placentaria, originando un compromiso fetal que se manifiesta en una forma de retraso del crecimiento intrauterino, parto pretérmino o muerte fetal. Se describe un caso clínico ilustrativo de este tipo de patología, referente a una mujer de 31 años, secundigestante y primípara, con antecedentes de muerte fetal intrauterina a las 13 semanas de gestación en el embarazo anterior. En este embarazo se registra un valor elevado de la alfa-fetoproteína a las 16 semanas y muerte inesperada a las 18 semanas de embarazo. El examen histológico de la placenta demostró una intervillositis crónica masiva. Este caso realza el valor del examen histológico de la placenta en todos casos de muerte fetal intrauterina y su importancia en el diagnóstico de la etiopatogenia y pronóstico de futuras gestaciones (AU)
Massive chronic intervillositis (MCI) is an infrequently recognized placental lesion which is reported in less than 0.5 0/0 of cases. MCI is characterized by prominent inflammatory infiltrate in the intervillous space in the absence of significant chronic villitis. MCI has been associated with poor pregnancy outcome, including intrauterine growth restriction, preterm delivery and intrauterine fetal death. We report such a case of a 31-year-old woman, gravida 2, para 0, with a past history of one intrauterine fetal death at 13 weeks pregnancy, who became pregnant, and an elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein was noted at 16 weeks gestation. The intrauterine fetal death was diagnosed at 18 weeks gestation. Histological examination of the placenta demonstrated the presence of MCI. This case also underlines the importance of the routine histopathological examination of the placenta in all cases of intrauterine fetal death, in view of its importance in aetiological diagnostic and prognostic information for future pregnancy (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Infant, Newborn , Abruptio Placentae/metabolism , Abruptio Placentae/pathology , Cells/classification , Cells/cytology , Cells/pathology , Prenatal Diagnosis/methods , Prenatal Diagnosis/standards , Fetal Death/etiology , Abruptio Placentae/classification , Abruptio Placentae/psychology , Cells/metabolism , Cells/immunology , Prenatal Diagnosis/classification , Prenatal Diagnosis , Fetal Death/prevention & controlABSTRACT
A 51-year-old man was treated for histologically proven chronic hepatitis C with 3 MU of recombinant interferon-alpha-2a three times a week. Before interferon therapy, a mild lichen planus (hypertrophic variant) had been diagnosed, which exacerbated within 6 weeks of treatment to a severe erosive oral form. Then interferon therapy was stopped because local measures did not improve oral lesions. However, the patient tolerated interferon therapy well, and the initially four-fold elevated aminotransferase levels returned to normal. Nine weeks after discontinuation of interferon therapy, nearly all the buccal mucous membrane lesions had disappeared. But 8 weeks after withdrawal of interferon, aminotransferase levels rose again to six times the normal range. Treating physicians should know that a pre-existing lichen planus would potentially exacerbate, as a side effect of interferon-alpha-2a therapy of chronic hepatitis. However, further observations are needed to decide its clinical relevance.
