Chromosomal evolution in Cryptangieae Benth. (Cyperaceae): Evidence of holocentrism and pseudomonads.

Cryptangieae has recently been revised based on morphology and molecular phylogeny, but cytogenetic data is still scarce. We conducted this study with the aim of investigating the occurrence of holocentric chromosomes and pseudomonads, as well as understanding the mode of chromosomal evolution in the tribe. We performed analyses of meiotic behavior, chromosome counts, and reconstruction of the ancestral state for the haploid number. We present novel cytogenetic data for eight potentially holocentric species: Cryptangium verticillatum, Krenakia junciforme, K. minarum, Lagenocarpus bracteosus, L. griseus, L. inversus, L. rigidus, and L. tenuifolius. Meiotic abnormalities were observed, with parallel spindles being particularly noteworthy. Intra-specific variations in chromosome number were not found, which may indicate an efficient genetic control for the elimination of abnormal nuclei. The inferred ancestral haploid number was n = 16, with dysploidy being the main evolutionary mechanism. At least five chromosomal fissions occurred in Krenakia (n = 21), followed by a further ascending dysploidy event in Lagenocarpus (n = 17). As proposed for Cyperaceae, it is possible that cladogenesis events in Cryptangieae were marked by numerical and structural chromosomal changes.

Floristic survey of herbaceous and subshrubby aquatic and palustrine angiosperms of Viruá National Park, Roraima, Brazil.

We provide and discuss a floristic survey of herbaceous and subshrubby aquatic and palustrine angiosperms of Viruá National Park (VNP). The VNP is located in the northern Amazon basin and displays phytophysiognomies distributed in a mosaic where these plants occur, as flooded forests, hydromorphic white-sand savannas, "buritizais" and waterbodies. After expeditions between February/2010 and January/2015 and the analysis of specimens from regional herbaria, we list 207 species of herbaceous and subshrubby aquatic and palustrine angiosperms for the VNP, distributed in 85 genera in 37 families. We recorded six new occurrences for Brazil, two for the northern Brazilian region and 21 for Roraima state. These new occurrences, added to the other species listed here, highlight the floristic similarity between the study site and the Guiana Shield, an adjacent phytogeographical unit and geologically related to the origin of white-sand savannas.

Resumo(Lista Florística de angiospermas herbáceas e subarbustivas aquáticas e palustres do Parque Nacional do Viruá, Roraima, Brasil) Esse estudo foi realizado objetivando a elaboração de uma lista florística das angiospermas herbáceas e subarbustivas aquáticas e palustres do Parque Nacional do Viruá (PNV). O PNV está localizado na região norte da Bacia Amazônica e apresenta fitofisionomias distribuídas em mosaico onde esse grupo de plantas ocorre, como florestas inundáveis, savanas sobre solos de areia branca hidromórficas, buritizais e corpos d'água. Após coletas entre Fevereiro/2010 e Janeiro/2015 e a análise de espécimes depositados em herbários regionais, foram listadas 207 espécies de angiospermas herbáceas e subarbustivas aquáticas e palustres no PNV, distribuídas em 85 gêneros e 37 famílias. Foram registradas seis novas ocorrências para o Brasil, duas para a região norte do Brasil e 21 para o estado de Roraima. Essas novas ocorrências, juntamente com as demais espécies listadas, evidenciam a similaridade florística entre a área de estudo e o Escudo das Guianas, uma unidade fitogeográfica adjacente e geologicamente relacionada com a origem das savanas sobre solos de areia branca.

Which growth criteria better predict fetal programming?

OBJECTIVE: To test whether customised (ct) growth criteria are more reliable than standard (st) ones to predict intrauterine insult. PATIENTS: 32 mothers and their singleton term neonates selected as small for gestational age (st-SGA=8) or appropriate for gestational age (st-AGA=24). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Nitric oxide, high-sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP), uric acid, blood lipids and protein levels were analysed in maternal and cord blood. RESULTS: Applying customised criteria yielded 16 ct-AGA, 13 ct-SGA and 3 ct-LGA (large for gestational age) babies. Both st-SGA and ct-SGA babies had higher nitric oxide and hs-CRP levels. Their mothers had lower albumin fractions. st-SGA babies also had higher triglyceride and cholesterol levels. ct-LGA babies and mothers had higher uric acid levels, and the mothers had higher triglyceride levels. CONCLUSIONS: Customised growth criteria better identify babies submitted to unfavourable intrauterine environments. The authors suggest that combined with maternal biochemistry, these growth criteria can be used to screen for adverse fetal programming.

Bases biológicas e evidências epidemiológicas da contribuição do crescimento fetal e pós-natal na composição corporal: uma revisão / The biological bases of and epidemiological evidence for the contribution of fetal and postnatal growth to body composition: a review

Apresentar as bases biológicas e evidências epidemiológicas do crescimento fetal e pós-natal relacionadas ao tamanho e composição corporal. MÉTODOS: a busca de artigos publicados nos últimos 15 anos foi realizada nas bases de dados Lilacs, SciELO, Medline através dos descritores: crescimento, restrição do crescimento fetal, baixo peso ao nascer, aceleração compensatória do crescimento, composição corporal, índice de massa corporal e hormônios. Os estudos foram selecionados de acordo com a pertinência às evidências a serem analisadas. RESULTADOS: os artigos apontam para a influência da restrição do crescimento intraútero na supressão da termogênese e regulação hormonal, que por sua vez interferem no ganho de peso após o nascimento, e explicam como ambos os processos, restrição do crescimento fetal e rápido ganho de peso pós-natal, influenciam as medidas corporais em fases posteriores da vida, com consequências que poderão afetar gerações. CONCLUSÕES: o crescimento fetal influencia o padrão de crescimento pós-natal devido a diversos fatores relacionados à regulação hormonal, porém existe ainda uma lacuna sobre a contribuição da somação entre crescimento fetal e pós-natal no tamanho e composição corporal em fases posteriores da vida...

To present the biological bases of and epidemiological evidence for fetal and postnatal growth in relation to size and body composition. METHODS: a search of papers published in the last 15 years was carried out in the Lilacs, SciELO, and Medline databases using the key words: growth, fetal growth restriction, low birth weight, catchup growth, body composition, body mass index and hormones. The studies were selected according to relevance to the evidence to be analyzed. RESULTS: the articles show the influence of intrauterine growth restriction on the suppression of thermogenesis and hormonal regulation, which in turn interfere with weight gain after birth, and explain how both processes, fetal growth restriction and rapid postnatal weight gain influence body measurements in later life, with consequences that might affect generations. CONCLUSIONS: fetal growth influences the pattern of postnatal growth due to several factors related to hormone regulation, but there is still a gap on the contribution of the combination of fetal growth and postnatal size to body composition in later life...

The maternal intrauterine environment as a generator of children at risk of metabolic syndrome: a review / O ambiente intrauterino como fator de risco para a síndrome metabólica: uma revisão

Nowadays, scientists are paying special attention to the increasing prevalence of obesity and associated co-morbidities, especially metabolic syndrome. This is due to observation of the spread of this syndrome from one generation to another and the growing number of obese pregnant women, which seems to exacerbate this situation. It is not yet well established whether the pathophysiological process underlying metabolic syndrome, namely insulin resistance, is due to changes in the receptor or in the cascade of intracellular processes. This narrative review aims to report on physiological and pathological changes occurring in pregnancy and the presence of Insulin receptor, Insulin Growth Factor-I receptor and the hybrid receptor, focusing on the presence of hyperinsulinemia in the growth and development of fetuses susceptible to metabolic syndrome.

O mundo científico está dando atenção especial ao crescimento da prevalência da obesidade e de suas co-morbidades, de modo particular da síndrome metabólica. Esse fato deve-se à observação da propagação dessa síndrome através de gerações e ao crescimento do número de gestantes obesas que parece agravar esta situação. Ainda não está bem estabelecido se o processo fisiopatológico subjacente à síndrome metabólica, a resistência à insulina, é por alteração no seu receptor ou na cascata de processos intracelulares. Esta revisão visa relacionar as alterações fisiológicas e patológicas da gestação e a presença dos receptores de insulina, Insulin Growth Factor-I e seus híbridos, focando na presença da hiperinsulinemia no crescimento e desenvolvimento do feto, a predisposição à síndrome metabólica.