Effect of soil characteristics on cadmium absorption and plant growth of Theobroma cacao L. seedlings.

BACKGROUND: Cadmium uptake by cacao plants can affect plant growth, consumer health and commercialisation. To develop mitigation strategies, it is essential to identify the soil characteristics that could influence this absorption. To determine the relationships between cadmium absorption and the soil characteristics of cacao areas, the responses at concentrations of 0, 2, 5, 10 and 20 µg g-1 of cadmium in three soils of these areas and an andisol were evaluated, using 120-day-old seedlings of four cultivars of Theobroma cacao L. RESULTS: In the present study, several relationships were found between chemical and physical soil characteristics and available cadmium, such as real and bulk densities, as well as contents of iron, sand, magnesium, potassium, sodium and copper. Additionally, moderate to strong correlations between potassium (r2  = -0.56) and real density (r2  = 0.42), with foliar cadmium, were found. Moreover, a differential deleterious effect on cacao growth in variables such as biomass was corroborated in cadmium concentrations from 5 µg g-1 in soils. There were no statistical differences between cultivars with respect to cadmium uptake or plant growth. Finally, a multiple linear regression model is proposed to estimate the foliar cadmium content (r2  = 0.878). CONCLUSION: Some soil characteristics such as density, as well as sand, clay, aluminium, potassium and iron contents, should be considered before establishing cacao crops to avoid cadmium accumulation. The correlation between potassium with foliar cadmium indicated that potassium could be significant in cadmium uptake mitigation strategies. The high correlation between available cadmium and foliar cadmium indicates that the quantification methodology developed using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid extractant may be a useful diagnostic tool. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Corioangioma placentario: reporte de un caso en la Unidad de Patología del Hospital San Juan de Dios E.S.E. Rionegro-Antioquia / Placental chorioangioma: case report in the Pathology Unit of the San Juan de Dios E.S.E. Hospital in Rionegro-Antioquia

Dentro de las neoplasias no trofoblásticas gestacionales de tipo vascular, el corioangioma es la más común. Se caracteriza por presentar una proliferación exagerada de estructuras vasculares, con células endoteliales y vellosidades coriónicas que generan una alteración de los vasos sanguíneos tanto arteriales como venosos. Tiene una incidencia menor al 1%, con tasas de mortalidad perinatal aproximadas entre 18% a 40%. Se presenta el caso de un corioangioma placentario diagnosticado a las 26 semanas de gestación en una paciente de 21 años de edad sin controles prenatales previos, el cual generó un lóbulo accesorio de 7 cm con tinción positiva en el análisis inmunohistoquímico para anticuerpos antimúsculo liso y CD34, y negativa para Ki67. El corioangioma desencadenó complicaciones en el embarazo, con parto pretérmino, hidropesía fetal y retardo en el crecimiento intrauterino, que llevaron a la muerte fetal. La falta de control prenatal en nuestra paciente impidió que se detectaran las anomalías placentarias oportunamente, con un desenlace fatal para el feto. Un control prenatal adecuado con seguimiento ecográfico puede evitar eventos fatales como el presentado. El análisis macroscópico y microscópico de la placenta puede favorecer la identificación de los casos y el aporte a las estadísticas de incidencia y mortalidad.

Among vascular gestational nontrophoblastic tumors, chorioangioma is the most common. It is characterized by an exaggerated proliferation of vascular structures, with endothelial cells and chorionic villi that generate abnormalities of both arterial and venous blood vessels. It has an incidence of less than 1%, with perinatal mortality rates between 18% to 40%. We present the case of a 21-year-old patient without previous prenatal controls, with a placental chorioangioma diagnosed at 26 weeks of gestation that formed a 7 cm accessory lobe, with positive staining during immunohistochemical analysis for smooth anti-muscle antibodies and CD34, and negative for Ki67. The placental chorioangioma triggered complications during pregnancy, with preterm delivery, hydrops fetalis, and intrauterine growth retardation leading to fetal death. The lack of prenatal control in our patient prevented an early detection of placental abnormalities with a fatal outcome for the fetus. Adequate prenatal control with ultrasound monitoring can avoid fatal events such as the one presented. Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the placenta can help identify cases and contribute to incidence and mortality statistics.