Protection induced by external Ca +2 application on proline accumulation, ion balance, photosynthetic pigments, protein and ABA concentration of mustard seedlings (Sinapis alba L.) under salinity stress

ABSTRACT The effect of external Ca 2+ application of different concentration to salinity-treated (100 mM NaCl) mustard plant (Sinapis alba L.) was investigated in relation to ion uptake, proline, chlorophyll a&b, protein and ABA concentrations. Salinity treatment (100 mM NaCl) led to significant decreases in Ca 2+ & K + uptake and Chl. a&b contents, accompanied by significant increases in Na + uptake, proline and ABA concentrations. Salinity treatment also induced the appearance of new protein bands. The most effective concentrations of CaCl 2 treatment in protecting mustard plants against the adverse effect of NaCl salinity were 5, 10, and 15 mM CaCl 2 . This could be attributed to the effect of CaCl 2 in decreasing ABA concentration, the synthesis of new polypeptides and increasing K + and Ca 2+ uptake

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Protection induced by external Ca2+ application on proline accumulation, ion balance, photosynthetic pigments, protein and ABA concentration of mustard seedlings (Sinapis alba L.) under salinity stress

The effect of external Ca2+ application of different concentration to salinity-treated (100 mM NaCl) mustard plant (Sinapis alba L.) was investigated in relation to ion uptake, proline, chlorophyll a&b, protein and ABA concentrations. Salinity treatment (100 mM NaCl) led to significant decreases in Ca2+& Kuptake and Chl. a&b contents, accompanied by significant increases in Na+ uptake, proline and ABA concentrations. Salinity treatment also induced the appearance of new protein bands. The most effective concentrations of CaCl2 treatment in protecting mustard plants against the adverse effect of NaCl salinity were 5, 10, and 15 mM CaCl2. This could be attributed to the effect of CaCl2 in decreasing ABA concentration, the synthesis of new polypeptides and increasing K+ and Ca2+ uptake. KEY WORDS: salinity, CaCl2, proline, protein, ABA. Egyptian Journal of Biology Vol.4 2002: 14-2

Metabolic responses of two Helianthus annuus cultivars to different fluoride concentrations during germination and seedling growth stages

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of sodium fluoride on two sunflower cultivars (Helianthus annuus (Fudek cv. and Earlyflower cv.) during germination and seedling growth stages. Increasing fluoride concentrations significantly decreased total protein and carbohydrate content, as well as amylase activity. However, proline content increased significantly with increasing fluoride concentration. Glutathione content and SOD activity significantly decreased while lipid peroxidation level significantly increased with increasing fluoride concentration. Increasing fluoride concentration in irrigated solution significantly decreased all pigments levels (chlorophyll a & b, total carotenoids and anthocyanins) in a seedling-stage experiment. Application of different concentrations of NaF during germination induced more severe effects than during the seedling stage. The earlyflower cv. was more sensitive to fluoride than Fudek cv. KEY WORDS: Fluoride, Sunflower, SOD, GSH .lipid peroxidation, germination, seedlings. Egyptian Journal of Botany Vol.5 2003: 43-5

Chilling-induced oxidative stress and polyamines regulatory role in two wheat varieties

AbstractFifteen-day-old seedlings of two wheat varieties (Side 1 & Gimmiza 7) were randomly separated into three equal groups to investigate the effect of chilling stress on their antioxidant defense system. Moreover, the possible role of polyamines (PAs) pretreatment during alleviating chilling injuries. The first group was kept in a green house at 21/15°C (day/night) and 10: 14h light/dark (−ve control). Second seedlings group were chilled at 5°C for 6 or 9 hours (+ve control). The Seedlings of the third group were divided into three sub-groups and sprayed with 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0mM spermidine (Spd). After 12 hours of polyamine pre-treatments, the seedlings were incubated at 5°C for 6 or 9 hours. At the end of the chilling period, the treated plants were transferred to the pre-experimental conditions in the greenhouse where they recovered for 10 days. Chilling stress induced a significant increase of lipid peroxidation, membrane leakage and hydrogen peroxide level, while Spd treatments resulted in a significant decrease. In addition, endogenous PA level increased in response to chilling stress. Activities of catalase, peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase declined after the exposure to chilling whereas glutathione and free ascorbate increased. Spd treatments alleviated the injury caused by chilling stress by preventing the decrease in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes. It can be concluded that the stress protection caused by spermidine treatment probably contributes to the enhancement of the activity of the free-radical scavenging systems. Moreover, it was clear that the Sids-1 cultivar was more tolerant to chilling stress than Gemmieza-7cultivar