Expression of antioxidant genes and photosynthetic apparatus in the soybean crop in competition with Italian ryegrass biotypes.

Crop-weed competition induces stress in plants causing physiological changes which can be evaluated using the RT-qPCR technique. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stability of candidate reference genes and measure the relative gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and components of the photosynthetic apparatus in soybean in competition with glyphosate-susceptible and resistant Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse using replacement series between soybean and Italian ryegrass biotypes. In this study, candidate reference genes were evaluated for use as controls in RT-qPCR to quantify gene expression. An evaluation was made of genes that encode catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, chlorophyll a/b, phytochrome A and cytochrome P450 at 50 days after emergence of the soybean. The SKIP and GAPDH genes were the most stable for soybean and Italian ryegrass, respectively. The soybean subjected to the interspecific competition with the glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass biotype showed an increase in superoxide dismutase gene expression. The catalase and cytochrome P450 genes were up-regulated in the susceptible biotype while the other genes were down-regulated. However, the soybean crop under interspecific competition with glyphosate-resistant biotye showed as up-regulated for all the genes evaluated. For the photosynthetic apparatus, cytochrome P450 gene was up-regulated under intraspecific competition on both Italian ryegrass biotypes, while the phytochrome A was up-regulated only in the resistant biotype. Thus, the increase in genes investigated represents a potential tool for the genetic improvement of plants to enhance their competitive capacity

Rice mutants and their responses to suboptimal temperatures in the early stages of development.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-02T09:03:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ArianoEINHARDTetal.2017Ricemutantsandtheirresponsesto.pdf: 667742 bytes, checksum: 95da4bc61cd97816f786faed6d0503b8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-10-31bitstream/item/165876/1/Ariano-EINHARDT-et-al.-2017-Rice-mutants-and-their-responses-to.pd

Rice mutants and their responses to suboptimal temperatures in the early stages of development.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-02T09:03:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ArianoEINHARDTetal.2017Ricemutantsandtheirresponsesto.pdf: 667742 bytes, checksum: 95da4bc61cd97816f786faed6d0503b8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-10-31bitstream/item/165876/1/Ariano-EINHARDT-et-al.-2017-Rice-mutants-and-their-responses-to.pd

Prodromal Transient Ischemic Attack or Minor Stroke and Outcome in Basilar Artery Occlusion

Background The presence of prodromal transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) has been associated with a favorable outcome in anterior circulation stroke. We aimed to determine the association between prodromal TIAs or minor stroke and outcomes at 1 month, in the Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study, a registry of patients presenting with an acute symptomatic and radiologically confirmed basilar artery occlusion. Methods A total of 619 patients were enrolled in the registry. Information on prodromal TIAs was available for 517 patients and on prodromal stroke for 487 patients. We calculated risk ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for poor clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale score <4) according to the variables of interest. Results Prodromal minor stroke was associated with poor outcome (crude risk ratio [cRR], 1.26; 95% CI, 1.12-1.42), but TIAs were not (cRR,.93; 95% CI,.79-1.09). These associations remained essentially the same after adjustment for confounding variables. Conclusions Prodromal minor stroke was associated with an unfavorable outcome in patients with basilar artery occlusion, whereas prodromal TIA was not

Treatment and outcomes of acute basilar artery occlusion in the Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study (BASICS) : a prospective registry study

BACKGROUND: Treatment strategies for acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) are based on case series and data that have been extrapolated from stroke intervention trials in other cerebrovascular territories, and information on the efficacy of different treatments in unselected patients with BAO is scarce. We therefore assessed outcomes and differences in treatment response after BAO. METHODS: The Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study (BASICS) is a prospective, observational registry of consecutive patients who presented with an acute symptomatic and radiologically confirmed BAO between November 1, 2002, and October 1, 2007. Stroke severity at time of treatment was dichotomised as severe (coma, locked-in state, or tetraplegia) or mild to moderate (any deficit that was less than severe). Outcome was assessed at 1 month. Poor outcome was defined as a modified Rankin scale score of 4 or 5, or death. Patients were divided into three groups according to the treatment they received: antithrombotic treatment only (AT), which comprised antiplatelet drugs or systemic anticoagulation; primary intravenous thrombolysis (IVT), including subsequent intra-arterial thrombolysis; or intra-arterial therapy (IAT), which comprised thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy, stenting, or a combination of these approaches. Risk ratios (RR) for treatment effects were adjusted for age, the severity of neurological deficits at the time of treatment, time to treatment, prodromal minor stroke, location of the occlusion, and diabetes. FINDINGS: 619 patients were entered in the registry. 27 patients were excluded from the analyses because they did not receive AT, IVT, or IAT, and all had a poor outcome. Of the 592 patients who were analysed, 183 were treated with only AT, 121 with IVT, and 288 with IAT. Overall, 402 (68%) of the analysed patients had a poor outcome. No statistically significant superiority was found for any treatment strategy. Compared with outcome after AT, patients with a mild-to-moderate deficit (n=245) had about the same risk of poor outcome after IVT (adjusted RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.60-1.45) or after IAT (adjusted RR 1.29, 0.97-1.72) but had a worse outcome after IAT compared with IVT (adjusted RR 1.49, 1.00-2.23). Compared with AT, patients with a severe deficit (n=347) had a lower risk of poor outcome after IVT (adjusted RR 0.88, 0.76-1.01) or IAT (adjusted RR 0.94, 0.86-1.02), whereas outcomes were similar after treatment with IAT or IVT (adjusted RR 1.06, 0.91-1.22). INTERPRETATION: Most patients in the BASICS registry received IAT. Our results do not support unequivocal superiority of IAT over IVT, and the efficacy of IAT versus IVT in patients with an acute BAO needs to be assessed in a randomised controlled trial. FUNDING: Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Utrecht