Efficacy of essential oils in the management of soft rot caused by Pectobacterium aroidearum in lettuce

Lettuce is susceptible to several diseases, especially soft rot caused by bacteria of the genus Pectobacterium. Due to the adaptability of this pathogen and the lack of disease control registered for the crop, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of essential oils in the management of soft rot caused by P. aroidearum in lettuce. The study was developed at the Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Juazeiro, BA, Brazil, and the essential oils (EOs) of orange, bergamot, lemongrass, palmarosa, citronella, cloves, tea tree, rosemary, sage, and ginger were used in concentrations of 0.25; 0.5; 0.75 and 1.0% to assess the in vitro growth inhibition of the bacterium. Subsequently, the curative effects of the disease were evaluated by applying the EOs that obtained the best results in vitro in lettuce plants of the susceptible variety "Mônica". The treatments were applied, via spraying, 12 hours after inoculation using the bite method with bacterial suspension. The best in vivo treatment was selected to assess its preventive and curative activity, as well as to find the ideal concentration for reducing epidemiological variables and chromatographic characterization. The EOs of palmarosa, sage, citronella, lemongrass, and cloves (0.25%), and that of sage (0.75%), inhibited bacterial growth in vitro. The EO of salvia showed the best results in vivo, inhibiting the growth of the disease in concentrations of 0.50 and 0.75%, so it was selected for the preventive and curative control tests alone. The preventive treatment was not efficient for the management of soft rot in lettuce, however, from the regression analysis, a concentration of 0.64% of the salvia EO was found as a potential for curative control of this bacteriosis, as it reduces the incidence and severity of the disease. Linalyl acetate and linalool were found in higher concentrations in the chromatographic analysis. These components, probably, conferred the bactericidal capacity of the EO of sage, being potential for the use in the control of P. aroidearum in lettuce.

Comparação do conteúdo entre: qualidade de vida e escalas de funcionalidade para a paraparesia espástica não-traumática de acordo com a Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde / Content comparison: quality of life and functioning scales in non-traumatic spastic paraparesis according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health

Objetivo: Identificar instrumentos utilizados para a avaliação funcional de pessoas com lesão medular não-traumática (LMNT) e comparar seu conteúdo de acordo com os conceitos da CIF. Método: A revisão sistemática foi realizada nas bases de dados Medline, Scielo, Pubmed e Bireme com os descritores "paraparesia espástica", "avaliação funcional", "exame neurológico", "escalas neurológicas", "avaliação neurológica" e "medidas de avaliação neurológica". Para encontrar artigos relatando as escalas de avaliação funcional aplicadas em indivíduos com LMNT. O conteúdo de tais instrumentos foi comparado após vinculá-los à CIF. Resultados: A revisão sistemática identificou 12 instrumentos de avaliação funcional de LMNT, foram identificadas 153descrições das categorias da CIF, concentradas principalmente em: funções neuromusculoesqueléticas, digestivas, atividades motoras e autocuidado. Entre os fatores ambientais: a tecnologia assistida para mobilidade, para uso pessoal na vida cotidiana, mereceu maior atenção. Conclusão: Este estudo forneceu um guia para identificar instrumentos para avaliar a funcionalidade de indivíduos com LMNT.

Purpose: Identify instruments used for the functional evaluation of people with Non-traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (NTSP), and compare their contents according to ICF concepts. Method: Literature review was conducted in the Medline, Scielo, Pubmed, and Bireme databases with the descriptors "spastic paraparesis," "functional evaluation," "neurological examination," "neurological scales," "neurological evaluation," and "neurological evaluation measurements," to find articles reporting the functional evaluation scales having been applied on individuals with NTSP. The content of such instruments was compared after linking them to ICF. Results: The systematic review identified 12 instruments for functional evaluation instruments of NTSP, in we described 153 ICF categories, concentrated mainly in: neuromusculoskeletal functions, digestive, motor activities, and self-care. Among the environmental factors: assistive technology for mobility, to personal use in daily life deserved greater attention. Conclusion: This study provided a guide to identify instruments to evaluate the functionality of individuals with NTSP.

The mdx Mutation in the 129/Sv Background Results in a Milder Phenotype: Transcriptome Comparative Analysis Searching for the Protective Factors.

The mdx mouse is a good genetic and molecular murine model for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a progressive and devastating muscle disease. However, this model is inappropriate for testing new therapies due to its mild phenotype. Here, we transferred the mdx mutation to the 129/Sv strain with the aim to create a more severe model for DMD. Unexpectedly, functional analysis of the first three generations of mdx129 showed a progressive amelioration of the phenotype, associated to less connective tissue replacement, and more regeneration than the original mdxC57BL. Transcriptome comparative analysis was performed to identify what is protecting this new model from the dystrophic characteristics. The mdxC57BL presents three times more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) than the mdx129 (371 and 137 DEGs respectively). However, both models present more overexpressed genes than underexpressed, indicating that the dystrophic and regenerative alterations are associated with the activation rather than repression of genes. As to functional categories, the DEGs of both mdx models showed a predominance of immune system genes. Excluding this category, the mdx129 model showed a decreased participation of the endo/exocytic pathway and homeostasis categories, and an increased participation of the extracellular matrix and enzymatic activity categories. Spp1 gene overexpression was the most significant DEG exclusively expressed in the mdx129 strain. This was confirmed through relative mRNA analysis and osteopontin protein quantification. The amount of the 66 kDa band of the protein, representing the post-translational product of the gene, was about 4,8 times higher on western blotting. Spp1 is a known DMD prognostic biomarker, and our data indicate that its upregulation can benefit phenotype. Modeling the expression of the DEGs involved in the mdx mutation with a benign course should be tested as a possible therapeutic target for the dystrophic process.

Applicability, validation and reproducibility of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure version III (SCIM III) in patients with non-traumatic spinal cord lesions.

PURPOSE: To verify the applicability, reproducibility and validity of the SCIM III patients with non-traumatic spinal cord injury. METHOD: The cross-sectional study included 30 patients (66% females; 41.5 ± 14.7 yo) with non-traumatic spinal cord injury of any etiology. Subjects were subjected by computerized gait analysis and answered the Brazilian versions of SCIM III (0-100 points) and FIM™ (18-126 points) by two raters (A and B) at the same day and 1 week later (A). RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient for the use of SCIM III indicated appropriated intra- and inter-evaluator reproducibility (ICC = 0.9). Correlation between the SCIM III and the motor FIM™ was appropriate (r = 0.6; p = 0.0). SCIM III subscales and FIM™ domains correlated strongly for self-care (r = 0.8; p ≤ 0.001), moderately for transfers (r = 0.6; p = 0.0005) and locomotion (r = 0.6; p = 0.0006). SCIM III mobility subscale positively correlated with the cadence (r = 0.8; p ≤ 0.01), gait speed (r = 0.7; p ≤ 0.01) and step length (r = 0.6; p ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: SCIM III is a reproducible functional assessment instrument and capable of evaluating the level of independence of the individual with non-traumatic spinal cord injury. The SCIM III is more sensitive than the MIF™ for non-traumatic spastic paraplegic patients with higher levels of independence, particularly if they can walk independently. Linear gait parameters correlated with its mobility subscale. Implications for Rehabilitation Applicability, validation and reproducibility of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure version III (SCIM III) in patients with non-traumatic spinal cord lesions. There are not many studies focused on patients with non-traumatic spinal cord lesion. Disability varies in severity, but frequently contributes to limitations in the activities of daily living (ADL) and participation. We do not find in the literature studies that assess the functionality of these individuals as comprehensive as ours.

Efeitos da imersão nos parâmetros ventilatórios de pacientes com distrofia muscular de Duchenne / Effects of immersion on the breathing parameters of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Em muitos centros de reabilitação, a fisioterapia aquática é utilizada para o tratamento de pacientes com distrofia muscular de Duchenne (DMD). Entretanto, são escassas as evidências científicas sobre os efeitos da imersão nos parâmetros ventilatórios desses pacientes. Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da imersão no nível da sétima vértebra cervical (C7) com relação aos parâmetros ventilatórios de pacientes com DMD. Método: Participaram do estudo quinze meninos com diagnóstico de DMD e média de idade de 12 anos. Coletados dados gerais e história clínica, os pacientes foram avaliados em solo e em imersão sob seguintes parâmetros: Saturação parcial de oxigênio (SpO2), frequência cardíaca (FC), pressões inspiratórias (PI Máx.) e expiratórias (PE Máx.) máximas, Volume Minuto(VM), Frequência Respiratória (FR), Volume Corrente (VC), Capacidade Vital Forçada (CVF) e Pico de Fluxo Expiratório (PFE). A SpO2 sofreu uma redução após a avaliação no meio líquido quando comparada aos valores anteriores à avaliação no mesmo meio (p = 0,01). Resultados: A FR foi maior em meio líquido que em solo (p = 0,02). As PI Máx. e as PE Máx. não se modificaram em meio líquido.Dentre os volumes analisados, a CVF e o PFE apresentaram valores menores em meio líquido quando comparada aos valores mensurados em solo (p = 0,004). VM e VC não sofreram alteração. Ao se relacionar os valores de CVF em solo e em meio líquido, assim como, os valores de PFE, observa-se que há correlação positiva entre os dados coletados em solo e em meio líquido (CVF: r = 0,692,p = 0,006; PFE: r = 0,913, p = 0,0001). A imersão no nível de C7 foi capaz de reduzir a CVF e o PFE de pacientes com DMD, bem como provocar aumento da FR dos mesmos...

In many rehabilitation centers, Aquatic Physiotherapy is commonly used as an optional treatmentfor Duchenne Muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients. However, there is so little scientific evidence about the immersion effects on the breathing parameters of these patients. Objective: Our goal was to evaluate the immersion effects to the depth of the seventh cervical vertebra (C7), related to the breathing parameters in DMD patients. Method: Fifteen boys with DMD participated of the study, averaging 12 years in age. Clinical history and general information were investigated,and the following parameters were evaluated on the ground and inside the pool: Partial OxygenSaturation (SpO2), heart rate (HR), maximal inspiratory (PI Max.) and expiratory (PE Max.) pressures, minute volume (MV), respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (TV), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)and peak expiratory flow (PEF). The SpO2 diminished after the aquatic evaluation when comparedto values beforehand (p = 0.01). RR was higher inside the pool than outside (p = 0.02). PI Max.and PE Max. did not change inside the pool. Results: Analyzing the results for volumes, FVC and EPF were reduced inside the pool when compared to evaluation on solid ground (p = 0.004). MV and TV did not change. A positive correlation between ground and pool values of FVC and PEF was seen (FVC: r = 0.692, p = 0.006; EPF: r = 0.913, p = 0.0001). C7 immersion was able to reduceSpO2, FVC, and PEF, while increasing the RR of DMD patients...