Genetics of phenological development and implications for seed yield in lentil.

Understanding phenology, its genetics and agronomic consequences, is critical for crop adaptation. Here we aim at (1) characterising lentil response to photoperiod with a focus on five loci: the lentil ELF3 ortholog Sn, two loci linked to clusters of lentil FT orthologs and two loci without candidates in chromosomes 2 and 5 (exp. 1: 36 lines, short and long day in phytotron); (2) establishing phenology-yield relationship (exp. 2: 25 lines, 11 field environments). A vintage perspective, where we quantify time trends in phenotype over three decades of breeding, links both experiments. Yield increased linearly from older to newer varieties at 29 kg ha-1 yr-1 or 1.5% yr-1, correlated negatively with flowering time in both winter- and summer-rainfall regimes, and decoupled from biomass in favourable environments. Time to flowering shortened from older to newer varieties at -0.56 % yr-1 in the field, and -0.42 % yr-1 (short day) and -0.99 % yr-1 (long day) in the phytotron. Early-flowering lines of diverse origin carried multiple early alleles for the five loci, indicating that at least some of these loci affect phenology additively. Current germplasm primarily features the early flowering haplotype for an FTb cluster region, hence the potential to increase phenological diversity with yield implications.

Development of Peritoneal Carcinoma in women diagnosed with Serous Tubal Intraepithelial Carcinoma (STIC) following Risk-Reducing Salpingo-Oophorectomy (RRSO).

INTRODUCTION: The management of Serous Tubal Intraepithelial Carcinoma (STIC) found at the time of Risk-Reducing Salpingo-Oophorectomy (RRSO) remains unclear. We set out to analyse the incidence of peritoneal carcinomas developed after prophylactic surgery and to formulate further guidance for these patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 300 consecutive RRSO performed at the Royal Marsden Hospital between January 2008 and January 2017. RESULTS: The median age at RRSO was 47.8 years (range 34 to 60 years) and median BMI was 26.2 kg/m2 (range 16 to 51 kg/m2). A total of 273 patients (91%) were tested for BRCA mutations. Of these, 124 (45.4%) had a BRCA 1 mutation, 118 (43.2%) had a BRCA 2 mutation, 2 (0.7%) had both a BRCA 1 and a BRCA 2 mutation and 29 (10.6%) had no BRCA mutation detected. Isolated STIC lesions were identified in 7 cases (2.3%) and p53 signatures in 75 cases (25%). There were five (1.6%) incidental tubal carcinomas and one (0.3%) ovarian carcinoma at the time of surgery. Two (28.6%) of the 7 patients with STIC identified following RRSO had high grade serous peritoneal carcinoma diagnosed at 53 and 75 months. One (0.3%) patient from the other 287 patients from our series with no STIC diagnosis or incidental carcinomas at RRSO developed high grade serous carcinoma of peritoneal origin after 92 months. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that when a STIC lesion is identified following RRSO there is a significantly higher risk of a subsequent peritoneal cancer. Although there is no published consensus in literature, we recommend that consideration should be given for long term follow-up if a STIC lesion is identified at RRSO.

Comparative genomics of Eucalyptus and Corymbia reveals low rates of genome structural rearrangement.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest genome structure is largely conserved between Eucalyptus species. However, it is unknown if this conservation extends to more divergent eucalypt taxa. We performed comparative genomics between the eucalypt genera Eucalyptus and Corymbia. Our results will facilitate transfer of genomic information between these important taxa and provide further insights into the rate of structural change in tree genomes. RESULTS: We constructed three high density linkage maps for two Corymbia species (Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata and Corymbia torelliana) which were used to compare genome structure between both species and Eucalyptus grandis. Genome structure was highly conserved between the Corymbia species. However, the comparison of Corymbia and E. grandis suggests large (from 1-13 MB) intra-chromosomal rearrangements have occurred on seven of the 11 chromosomes. Most rearrangements were supported through comparisons of the three independent Corymbia maps to the E. grandis genome sequence, and to other independently constructed Eucalyptus linkage maps. CONCLUSIONS: These are the first large scale chromosomal rearrangements discovered between eucalypts. Nonetheless, in the general context of plants, the genomic structure of the two genera was remarkably conserved; adding to a growing body of evidence that conservation of genome structure is common amongst woody angiosperms.

Prospective evaluation of total hip arthroplasty with a cementless, anatomically designed, porous-coated femoral implant: mean 11-year follow-up.

The performance of an anatomically designed femoral implant with porous titanium mesh coating was assessed in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. The stem, with built-in 12 degrees anteversion, was implanted in neutral position relative to the long axis of the femur through a cementless press-fit application. The only requirement was the presence of sufficient thickness within the cortical bone of the femoral metaphysis to support the stem. Ninety-one evaluable patients were followed up for a minimum of 10 years. Patients tolerated weight-bearing activity within 24 hours after surgery. Only 1 femoral component required revision because of loosening. Most patients showed uniform bony ingrowth. Quality of life was markedly improved. The anatomically designed, porous-coated implant provides robust performance which has general utility in a wide range of patients.

Using health status measures in the hospital setting: from acute care to 'outcomes management'.

In recent years, employers, insurers, and government purchasers have paid increased attention to the measurement of patient outcomes and health status. Such interest is stimulated less by policy or quality concerns than by the need to reduce health care expenditures. Any expected benefits which might accrue from health status measurement will require active participation by community hospitals and their affiliated physicians. St. Vincent Hospital and Medical Center in Portland, Oregon has begun hospital-wide use of outcomes measurement systems. This study presents case studies of outcomes measurement for low back pain and total hip replacement, summarizes the hospital's objectives in implementing such measures, and identifies several strategies for successful adoption of health status measures in community practice.

Changes in thyrotropin (TSH) carbohydrate structure and response to TSH-releasing hormone during postnatal ontogeny: analysis by concanavalin-A chromatography.

We have studied the carbohydrate structure of TSH as well as its response to TRH during postnatal ontogenesis in the rat using Concanavalin-A (Con A)-Sepharose chromatography of labeled glycopeptides. Pituitaries from neonatal (5-day-old) rats with low levels of endogenous TRH and mature (56-day-old) rats were incubated for 24 h in medium containing [3H] glucosamine in the presence or absence of 10(-7) M TRH. Both intracellular and secreted TSH were immunoprecipitated, treated with Pronase to generate glycopeptides, and analyzed by chromatography on Con A-Sepharose. The total amount of [3H]glucosamine-labeled TSH was greater per pituitary in mature rats compared to that in neonatal rats (P less than 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the groups in the concentration of total labeled TSH per microgram pituitary DNA. RIA determination of total TSH was greater in the older animals than in the younger animals when normalized both per pituitary and per microgram pituitary DNA (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.02, respectively). However, for both labeled and unlabeled TSH the percentage of TSH secreted was greater in mature rats than in neonatal rats (P less than 0.02 and P less than 0.01, respectively), indicating a less active hormonal secretory process in the younger animals. In control animals, the proportion of labeled TSH glycopeptides that did not bind to Con A was greater in 56- than in 5-day-old animals for both intrapituitary and secreted forms (P less than 0.01), reflecting a shift toward more multiantennary and/or bisected biantennary complex carbohydrate structures in the older animals. In response to TRH in vitro, the total amount of labeled secreted TSH was increased more than 2-fold in both 5-day-old (P less than 0.05) and 56-day-old (P = NS) animals. However, there was a marked difference in the glycopeptide distribution between these two ages. Five-day-old animals showed a small but not significant decrease in the percentage of secreted TSH glycopeptides that bound to Con A-Sepharose, while 56-day-old animals had a specific increase in the glycopeptide fractions that bound and corresponded to biantennary complex and/or unusual hybrid forms (P less than 0.01). These studies in the rat suggest differences in TSH carbohydrate structure and secretion as well as a differential response to TRH during postnatal ontogenesis.

Management of the insulin-dependent diabetic during labor and delivery. Influences on neonatal outcome.

Infants of insulin-dependent diabetic mothers are at risk for neonatal polycythemia, hyperbilirubinemia, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), and hypoglycemia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether labor and delivery management of diabetes may influence the rate of these complications. We hypothesized a priori that: infants of diabetic mothers delivered by cesarean section have a lower rate of neonatal polycythemia and hyperbilirubinemia, but a higher rate of RDS, than infants of diabetic mothers delivered by vaginal route, and poor glycemic control during labor increases the rate of neonatal hypoglycemia. We therefore prospectively studied 122 pregnancies in 100 well-controlled insulin-dependent diabetic mothers. Intravenous glucose and/or insulin was infused during labor to maintain capillary glucose concentration between 70 and 100 mg/dl. Fifty-six pregnancies were concluded by primary or elective cesarean section (group 1), 36 by cesarean section following spontaneous or induced labor (group 2), and 30 by spontaneous or induced vaginal delivery (group 3). Hemoglobin A1, birthweight, and gestational age were similar in all three groups. The rate of neonatal polycythemia was significantly lower in the cesarean section subjects, groups 1 and 2, as compared to group 3 (P less than 0.04). The rate of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia was significantly lower in group 1 (P less than 0.05) as compared to groups 2 and 3. The rate of RDS was higher in group 1 (versus groups 2 or 3), but did not reach significance on initial analysis (P = 0.06); however, group 1 was associated with a significant risk for RDS when corrected for the confounding variables of gestational age and neonatal asphyxia as defined by Apgar scores.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Neonatal polycythemia in infants of insulin-dependent diabetic mothers.

The rate of neonatal polycythemia was determined prospectively in 34 infants of diabetic mothers pair-matched to 34 infants of nondiabetic mothers (control group) for site of sampling, time of sampling, time of cord clamping, gestational age, mode of delivery, and one- and five-minute Apgar scores. Polycythemia (venous hematocrit greater than or equal to 65%) was present in 29.4% of infants of diabetic mothers and 5.9% of control subjects (P less than .03). Mean nucleated red blood cell counts were significantly higher in infants of diabetic mothers than in controls. Polycythemia did not correlate with higher maternal hemoglobin A1 concentration or with increased infant weight percentile, but did correlate with neonatal hypoglycemia. The authors speculate that increased erythropoiesis exists in infants of diabetic mothers and might be subsequent to fetal hypoxemia due to fetal hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinism, and hyperketonemia.

Elevated maternal glycohemoglobin in early pregnancy and spontaneous abortion among insulin-dependent diabetic women.

Insulin-dependent diabetic women without adequate glucose control have a higher rate of spontaneous abortions than does the general population of pregnant women. The present study examined whether insulin-dependent diabetic women who experienced spontaneous abortions had higher levels of glycohemoglobin in the first trimester than did insulin-dependent diabetic women who had normal pregnancy outcomes. Measurement of glycohemoglobin during the first trimester provides an integrated, retrospective index of glucose control during the phase of organogenesis. This study evaluated 116 pregnancies in 75 insulin-dependent diabetic women. Ninety pregnancies progressed beyond 20 weeks, with normal outcome. Twenty-six pregnancies terminated in spontaneous abortions before 20 weeks. The mean gestational ages for sampling of glycohemoglobin for the women who experienced spontaneous abortion and those for the women with pregnancies of more than 20 weeks were not significantly different. The mean level of glycohemoglobin for the women who experienced spontaneous abortions was significantly greater than that for the women with pregnancies of more than 20 weeks (p less than 0.05). Individual levels of glycohemoglobin of less than 12% at 8 to 9 weeks' gestation were associated with favorable outcomes, whereas levels of glycohemoglobin of more than 12% were predictive of a greater incidence of spontaneous abortions (p less than 0.05). These data suggest that the poorly controlled pregnant diabetic patient, as reflected by high levels of glycohemoglobin early in pregnancy, has an increased risk of spontaneous abortion.

Pars plana vitrectomy. Treatment for tractional macula detachment secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Pars plana vitrectomies were performed on 43 eyes with traction macular detachment secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Anatomic success, as judged by reattachment of the macula, occurred 28 (65%) eyes. Improved visual acuity occurred in 11 (26%) eyes. Severe complications occurring after vitrectomy included moderate to severe rubeosis iridis diabetica (28%), neovascular glaucoma (16%), vitreous hemorrhage (49%), and phthisis bulbi (14%). Eyes that received scatter photocagulation therapy at some time prior to macular detachment had a substantially lower incidence of successful postoperative reattachment of the macula than eyes never treated with photocoagulation.