Resumen Las bacterias benéficas que habitan la rizósfera de las plantas son de gran interés agrícola debido a su capacidad para producir fitohormonas durante la colonización radicular. Estas fitohormonas producen cambios fisiológicos en la planta que favorecen una mayor absorción de nutrientes que provocan un rápido crecimiento vegetativo y una mayor producción. Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo evaluar el efecto de la inoculación de dos de estas bacterias, Azospirillum sp. y Pseudomonas fluorescens en el cultivo de maíz harinoso bajo condiciones de campo típicas de la región alto andina. El experimento se realizó utilizando semilla de maíz harinoso de la variedad INIAP-101 con un diseño de bloques completos al azar y seis repeticiones. Los tratamientos correspondieron a: T1 (Azospirillum sp.), T2 (P. fluorescens), T3 (Azospirillum sp. y P. fluorescens), T4 (testigo con fertilización química convencional) y T5 (testigo absoluto). La aplicación de estas bacterias incrementó de manera significativa (p<0,05) la longitud de raíz, el diámetro de la mazorca y el rendimiento del maíz tierno (elotes o choclos). La inoculación combinada de estas bacterias (T3) obtuvo el mayor rendimiento con 19,70 t ha−1 de choclos, mientras que el testigo químico y el testigo absoluto obtuvieron 17,12 y 13,58 t ha−1 de choclos, respectivamente. El análisis económico de T3 reportó un coste/beneficio de 1,35, lo cual indicó que el sinergismo de estos dos géneros podría ser una estrategia sostenible para mejorar los rendimientos y reducir el uso de fertilizantes químicos en el cultivo de maíz de la región Andina.

Abstract Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) that inhabit root rhizosphere of plants are of great agricultural importance due to their ability to produce phytohormones during root colonization. These phytohormones produce physiological changes in the plant that favor a greater absorption of nutrients, promote growth and increase production. This study analyzed the effect of inoculation of two of these bacteria, Azospirillum sp. and Pseudomonas fluorescens, under field conditions representative of the Andean Highlands. The experiment was carried out using flour corn seed of the INIAP-101 variety in a randomized complete block design with six repetitions. The treatments corresponded to: T1 (Azospirillum sp.), T2 (P. fluorescens), T3 (Azospirillum sp. and P. fluorescens), T4 (control, conventional chemical fertilization) and T5 (absolute control). The application of these bacteria significantly increased (p<0.05) the root length, the diameter of the cob, and the yield of fresh corn (“elotes” or “choclos”). The combined inoculation of these bacteria (T3) obtained the highest yield, with 19.70 t ha−1 of fresh corn; while the chemical control and the absolute control got 17.12 and 13.58 t ha−1 of fresh corn, respectively. The economic analysis of T3 reported a benefit/cost of 1.35, which indicates that the synergism of these two bacteria could be a sustainable strategy to improve yields and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers for corn production in the Andean region.

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) on the long-term prognosis of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). Methods: Two thousand one hundred and eighty-five NSTEACS cases with coronary artery disease and preoperative record of RDW who under went elective PCI treatment from July 2009 to September 2011 were selected. According to preoperative RDW levels, the patients were divided into two groups. One thousand one hundred and seventy cases belonged to the RDW < 12.2 group, 1015 cases belonged to RDW ≥ 12.2 group. The clinical characteristics and the incidence of postoperative mortality in the two groups were compared. There was a follow-up period of 540 days. Results: Patients in the RDW ≥ 12.2 group were females with characteristics such as: hypertension, history of cerebrovascular disease, hospital use of β-blockers and high body mass index (BMI) at admission, low haemoglobin and total cholesterol levels. The postoperative mortality of RDW ≥ 12.2 group (2.7% vs 1.0%, p = 0.004) was significantly higher than that of RDW < 12.2 group. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, after adjustment for other factors, RDW ≥ 12.2 in the patients with postoperative PCI was an independent predictive factor for mortality (HR 2.171, 95% CI 1.007, 4.680, p = 0.048). Conclusion: High RDW in patients with postoperative PCI was an independent predictive factor for mortality.

RESUMEN Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la influencia de la amplitud de la distribución eritrocitaria (ADE, o ADR, amplitud de la distribución de los glóbulos rojos) en el pronóstico a largo plazo de la intervención coronaria percutánea (ICP) en pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del segmento ST (SCASEST). Métodos: Se seleccionaron dos mil ciento ochenta y cinco casos (2,185) de SCASEST con enfermedad arterial coronaria y registro preoperatorio de ADE que aceptaron el tratamiento electivo de ICP de julio de 2009 a septiembre de 2011. De acuerdo con los niveles preoperatorios de ADE, los pacientes fueron divididos en dos grupos. Mil ciento setenta casos pasaron a formar parte del grupo ADE < 12.2, mientras que 1015 casos formaron parte del grupo ADE ≥ 12.2. Se compararon las características clínicas y la incidencia de mortalidad postoperatoria en ambos grupos. Hubo un período de seguimiento de 540 días. Resultados: Los pacientes en el grupo ADE ≥ 12.2 eran mujeres con características tales como hipertensión, historia de enfermedad cerebrovascular, aplicación hospitalaria de β-bloqueadores, alto índice de masa corporal (IMC) al momento del ingreso, bajos niveles de hemoglobina y niveles de colesterol total. La mortalidad postoperatoria del grupo ADE ≥ 12.2 (2.7% vs 1.0%, p = 0.004) fue significativamente mayor que la del grupo ADE < 12.2. En el análisis de regresión de Cox multivariante, después del ajuste de otros factores, la ADE ≥ 12.2 de los pacientes con ICP postoperatorio devino un factor predictivo independiente de mortalidad (HR 2.171, IC 95% 1.007, 4.680, p = 0.048). Conclusión: La ADE alta en pacientes con ICP postoperatorio fue un factor predictivo independiente en relación con la mortalidad.

We aimed to study the renal injury and hypertension induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) and the protective effects mediated by angiotensin 1-7 [Ang(1-7)]. We randomly assigned 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats (body weight 180-200 g) to normoxia control, CIH, Ang(1-7)-treated normoxia, and Ang(1-7)-treated CIH groups. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was monitored at the start and end of each week. Renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) was recorded. CTGF and TGF-β were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Tissue parameters of oxidative stress were also determined. In addition, renal levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, nitrotyrosine, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α were determined by immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and ELISA. TUNEL assay results and cleaved caspase 3 and 12 were also determined. Ang(1-7) induced a reduction in SBP together with a restoration of RSNA in the rat model of CIH. Ang(1-7) treatment also suppressed the production of reactive oxygen species, reduced renal tissue inflammation, ameliorated mesangial expansion, and decreased renal fibrosis. Thus, Ang(1-7) treatment exerted renoprotective effects on CIH-induced renal injury and was associated with a reduction of oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis. Ang(1-7) might therefore represent a promising therapy for obstructive sleep apnea-related hypertension and renal injury.

Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress in lung tissues and can lead to metabolic abnormalities. We investigated the effects of angiotensin1–7 [Ang-(1–7)] on lung injury in rats induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). We randomly assigned 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats (180–200 g) to normoxia control (NC), CIH-untreated (uCIH), Ang-(1–7)-treated normoxia control (N-A), and Ang-(1–7)-treated CIH (CIH-A) groups. Oxidative stress biomarkers were measured in lung tissues, and expression of NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) and Nox subunits (p22phox, and p47phox) was determined by Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Pulmonary pathological changes were more evident in the uCIH group than in the other groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunohistochemical staining showed that inflammatory factor concentrations in serum and lung tissues in the uCIH group were significantly higher than those in the NC and N-A groups. Expression of inflammatory factors was significantly higher in the CIH-A group than in the NC and N-A groups, but was lower than in the uCIH group (P<0.01). Oxidative stress was markedly higher in the uCIH group than in the NC and N-A groups. Expression of Nox4 and its subunits was also increased in the uCIH group. These changes were attenuated upon Ang-(1–7) treatment. In summary, treatment with Ang-(1-7) reversed signs of CIH-induced lung injury via inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress.