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Background No published studies have evaluated in pregnant women with HIV weight gain with different antiretroviral drug classes.Methods Data from a national cohort study were used. We compared absolute weight gain and occurrence of excessive weight gain in women with HIV who received during pregnancy integrase inhibitors (INSTI), protease inhibitors (PI), or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI). Excessive weight gain was defined according to the Institute of Medicine recommendations. Possible predictors of weight gain were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses.Results Among 273 cases (PI: 191, NNRTI: 43, INSTI: 39), the mean weight increase was 11.3 kg, and 25.4% of the mothers had an excessive weight increase. No significant differences were found among the three treatment groups for absolute weight increase, occurrence of excessive weight gain, infant birthweight, and other pregnancy and laboratory outcomes. The comparisons of individual drugs, although based on a limited number of cases, suggested no major differences. A significant positive correlation was found between weight gain and CD4+T-cell increase during pregnancy. In multivariate analyses, drug class and nucleoside backbone were not associated with absolute or excessive weight increase. Excessive weight increase was significantly associated with week of delivery (adjusted odds ratio: 1.74, 95% CI 1.15, 2.63), obesity (5.21, 95% CI 1.85, 14.64), overweight (7.95, 95% CI 3.26, 19.39), recent substance use (5.96, 95% CI 1.13, 31.40) and fasting 2nd trimester hyperglycaemia (3.94, 95% CI 1.14, 13.65).Conclusions No significant differences in absolute weight change or occurrence of excessive weight gain were found among women with HIV who received during pregnancy different classes of antiretroviral drugs.

Five pregnant (two to three and one‐half months) Macaca fascicularisseroconverted following immunization with sucrose‐gradient purified and formalin‐inactivated whole simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVmac251). No untoward effects on fetal maturation were observed during the immunization of the mothers. Antibodies to SIVmac251(also those with in vitro neutralizing activity) were passively transferred to the offspring but disappeared within two to six months after birth. Antibodies to env glycoprotein (gp130) lasted longer than those against viral gag proteins (p26,p60).

Different plant explants of Persian buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus L.) were screened for callus induction and adventitious shoot regeneration on different media to establish totipotent cultures. Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium was used, supplemented with different concentrations of the following growth regulators: kinetin, benzyladenine (BA), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and indoleacetic acid (IAA). Callus was induced and adventitious buds regenerated only from cotyledonary explants after 4–5 weeks. Subculture of the regenerated buds on the same basal medium in presence of gibberellic acid (GA3) and BA produced well-organized shoots. Rooting was obtained by transferring shoots to growth regulator-free MS medium. A high rate of shoot multiplication has been achieved on medium with high concentration of kinetin and long-day photoperiod. Finally the plants were successfully transferred to soil and grown in a greenhouse.

In cynomolgus monkeys, we compared two human‐derived SIVmac251 whole virus vaccines, a long vs short immunization schedule, and two different challenge viruses. Both vaccines induced protection after challenge with human‐derived SIVmac251/32H. There was no difference between the two schedules of immunization. Seven monkeys, five of which were protected following the first challenge, were reboosted and rechallenged with monkey‐derived SIVmac251, but no protection was observed. The titers of anti‐human cell or ‐SIV neutralizing antibodies were not related to protection.

A method of plant regeneration from cotyledons ofHelianthus tuberosus, Helianthus annuus ×Helianthus tuberosus and for the backcross of the interspecific hybrids onH. annuus was developed. Induction of somatic embryogenesis and plantlet regeneration from anther culture of the interspecific hybridsH. annuus ×H. tuberosus is reported.

Pregnant Swiss mice were treated with 0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg body weight of bis(tri-n-butyltin) oxide (TBTO) on d 6-15 of gestation. At birth litters were normalized to eight pups, and postnatal evaluation of pup growth rate and behavioral observations of dams were carried out. Litters were sacrificed on postnatal days (pnd) 7, 14, and 21, to perform hematological analysis, in connection with another study. Dam weight gain was impaired in all the treated groups (except at the lowest dose level) in the late phase of gestation. A high incidence of anticipated or delayed parturitions, without any correlation with fetal mass, was observed in the treated groups. All the treated dams showed a significant increase in resorptions, and a decrease in body weight gain between gestational day (gd) 6 and pnd 1. At birth, only the 20 and 30 mg/kg dose groups showed reduced litter size and reduced pup weight. Body weight gain reduction of pups persisted in wk 1 of life only in the 10 and 20 mg/kg dose groups. In addition, the maternal weight trend was affected during the lactation period in the higher dose groups. Postnatal death rate and growth rate of treated pups were affected by an altered maternal behavior; pups, apparently viable and with normal weight, were found often scattered throughout the cage with signs of wounds, and the percentage of dams that had not built a nest increased in the 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg dose groups. Total absence of parental care was noted in many litters, and many infanticidal events were reported. Our results seem to confirm low TBTO embryo-fetotoxicity, and strongly support the assumption that TBTO's toxicity to the mother is much stronger than its embryo-fetotoxic potential. Most of the reproductive parameters examined in this study were unaffected in the low-dose group, while some indices, such as gestation length and maternal weight gain between gd 6 and pnd 1, were markedly altered also at the 5 mg/kg dose level and appear to be sensitive parameters in assessing maternal toxicity.

The effect of in utero TBTO exposure on blood composition in neonates, pups during weaning, and dams in the same period were investigated in mice. The dams were gavaged at dose levels 0, 5, 10, and 20 mg TBTO/kg body weight on gestational days 6-15. At birth, litters were culled to eight pups, and blood analysis was performed on excess pups. On d 7, 14, and 21 the entire litters were sacrificed and blood (WBC, RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and differential leukocyte count) of dams and pups was analyzed. Blood analysis of neonates revealed enhanced WBC count and altered red-cell parameters. Increase in WBC persisted until postnatal day (pnd) 21, while red-cell parameters regained normal values on pnd 7. No significant differences were found in thymus and spleen weights in the treated groups. Dams presented no alteration in blood composition or of spleen or thymus weights. The results of this investigation revealed that in utero exposure to TBTO induces a nonspecific alteration of hematological parameters in mice, but further studies are necessary to understand whether our results are either dependent on maternal status or a direct effect of TBTO on embryonic tissue.

Summary The development of epidermal cell lines in the first foliage leaf ofTriticum durum was studied with a combined cytological and DNA cytophotometric analysis. It was shown that:(1)At emergence, the distal portion of the leaf is made of the cells pre-existing in the embryonic leaf and the mitotic activity is localized at the base of the leaf lamina (basal meristem).(2)The proliferating protoderm (outermost cell layer of the basal meristem) contains a meristematic cell population and a differentiating cell population. The cells produced by the protoderm differentiate with 2C, 4C, 8C, and 16 C nuclear DNA contents.(3)The endoreduplicated cells (EC) together with 4C cells form prominent cell rows in the leaf epidermis. The interstomatal cells (ISC) are all 2 C and the inter-hairs cells (IHC) are mostly 2 C (rare 4 C cells lie adjacent to the EC).(4)In the fully developed leaf, the frequency distribution of EC (8 C and 16 C) and 4C cells in a given epidermal segment (Fig. 1) corresponds to the frequency established in the epidermis differentiation zone (zone b, segment 1) at the time of development of that segment:e.g., segment 6 developed at 1–2 days after seed germination, segment 5 at 3 days after germination and so on.(5)Epidermal cell elongation starts in segment 1 and reachs its maximum in the older leaf segments, 5 and 6. The rate of cell elongation is independent of nuclear DNA content; chromosome endoreduplication precedes elongation.(6)The possibility of using epidermal cell parameters in studies on first leaf growth inT. durum is discussed.

Genetic variation induced by tissue culture has been characterized in many species. The present study was conducted to genetically and phenotypically characterize an albino mutant in sunflower induced by in-vitro culture. A single recessive gene defective in carotenoid biosynthesis eventually leads to a chlorophyll loss due to photobleaching, absence of seed dormancy, and a low level of endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) in cotyledons and leaves. Further characterization has shown that the endogenous level of the hormone does not increase after drought stress and that the mutation prevents anthocyanin synthesis.

Experiments in strains of yeast with different genetic backgrounds were done to evaluate the kinetics of inactivation and mutation induction by X-radiations. A system of forward mutation induction in five loci was used and a specific mutation rate of 0.14·10−8×locus×rad was evaluated for the wild type.

The present paper is part of a research program which aims at a quantitative analysis of the effects of light and gibberellic acid (GA3) on growth of the first foliage leaf in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). Since leaf growth is the combined result of the increase in cell number (cell division) and cell enlargement, the influence of light and GA3 treatment on cell division in the basal meristem of the first leaf in two cultivars, Cappelli and Creso, was investigated. Creso is a short-strawed cultivar carrying the Gai 1 gene which influences both plant height and insensitivity to applied GA3. Cell division, as measured by mitotic index, was similar in darkness, continuous red light and dichromatic irradiation (far-red plus red), while lower mitotic rates were observed under continuous far-red light: this indicates that the response of cell division is modulated by a high-irradiance reaction of phytochrome in both cultivars. The two cultivars showed different responses to blue light. In Cappelli, blue light and dichromatic irradiation (blue plus red) gave lower mitotic indices than the dark control, indicating the action of a specific blue-light-absorbing photoreceptor, whereas in Creso the response kinetics to all light regimes which included blue light were more complex. On the basis also of the results obtained with GA3 application in Cappelli, it appears that (i) the hormonal treatment is able to change the pattern of mitotic index only in the presence of the action of a blue-light receptor and (ii) the different responses of the two cultivars could be the result of different endogenous hormonal levels. The importance of the observations in relation to the data for first-leaf longitudinal growth reported in a previous paper (Baroncelli et al. 1984, Planta 160, 298–304) is discussed.

A comparison has been made of the relative effectiveness of light quality and quantity and gibberellic acid (GA3) treatment on the elongation growth of the coleoptile and the first foliage leaf in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf. cvs. Cappelli and Creso). The cultivar Creso is a shortstrawed variety carrying the Gai 1 gene on chromosome 4A, which influences both plant height and insensitivity to applied gibberellins. The main conclusions are as follows: 1) coleoptile elongation growth appears to be modulated via the fluencerate-dependent action of a blue-light receptor and via a low energy response of phytochrome; 2) the inhibition of first-foliage-leaf growth depends on the operation of a single blue-light-responsive photoreceptor; 3) high energy blue light produces the same inhibitory effect on the two wheat cultivars, whereas at relatively low fluences of white and blue light, the cultivar Creso is more sensitive; 4) the insensitivity to applied GA3 exerted by the gene Gai 1 in Creso is independent of light; 5) in Cappelli, the action of light on coleoptiles appears to be independent of the applied GA3, whereas the hormone is able to change the pattern of growth inhibition of the first-foliage-leaf.

Summary The first foliage leaf ofTriticum durum Desf., cvs. Capelli and Creso, was studied for the action of light and gibberellic acid on different aspects of plant growth. Creso is a short-strawed cultivar carrying theRht 1 gene, that influences both plant height and sensitivity to applied gibberellins. In this study, a cytophotometric analysis of chromosome endoreduplication in bulliform cells of the leaf epidermis was undertaken. The bulliform cells are arranged in long rows and comprise 4C, 8C, and 16C cells. The relative percentage of these cells was recorded under different light regimes and in the presence or absence of gibberellic acid (GA3). Our data indicate that light strongly affects the occurrence of chromosome endoreduplication. Although cvs. Cappelli and Creso show the same frequency of endo-reduplicated cells in the dark, all light treatments induce lower endo-polyploidy in cv. Creso whereas, in cv. Cappelli, a reduction in endo-polyploidy is observed when plants are irradiated with blue-lacking lights. This indicates that the action of a blue-light responsive photo-receptor determines high endopolyploidy. With respect to GA3 treatment, cv. Creso is again shown to be insensitive to hormone application, whereas in cv. Cappelli, gibberellic acid influences endopolyploidy level in the dark, causing very high frequencies of 8C cells and relatively high frequencies of 16C cells.

Summary In two populations of selfed commercial varieties 4800 and 5774 ofDianthus cariophyllus as well as in the parents of 5774 two quantitative traits were examined: petal number and durability of blossoms after cutting. Both populations showed an increase in the number of petals, No. 4800 also in its durability. The estimated hereditary component was high for petals (0.47 and 0.35), lower but significant for lasting quality. The importance of an investigation on the selection for quantitative traits in cut flowers is discussed.

The present study was conducted to characterize genetically and physiologically a spontaneous mutation in sunflower which confers a wilty phenotype. The wilting condition of the mutant is due to abnormal stomatal behaviour. The mutant stomata resist closure in darkness. This abnormality is associated with low levels of endogenous abscisic acid (ABA). By artificially elevating the ABA content of the mutant plants by spray treatments with 10− and 10− M solutions it proved possible to effect a phenotypic reversion of the mutant. It has, therefore, been proposed that the primary effect of this spontaneous mutation is to reduce the level of ABA. The genetic analysis has shown that the willy phenotype is due to recessive nuclear mutation at a single locus.