Preliminary image-based appraisal of starch in one-year-old grapevine shoots

Determination of starch concentration in grapevine woody tissues is pivotal to optimize some vineyard management techniques. Analytical assays represent the most reliable approach but nevertheless they are time-consuming. This study reports preliminary results on using imaging to estimate starch concentration in woody tissues stained with the Lugol's solution indicator in Vitis vinifera L.. One-year-old shoots (cv 'Primitivo') were sampled in winter time and forced to sprout inducing a starch depletion. The measured starch ranged from approx. 0.1 to 14.4 % (DW). Parallel image-based and analytical starch concentrations data (n=42) revealed that R (red), G (green) and B (blue) color channels were highly predictive across three phenological stages (r =-0.92), rising the imaging technique proposed as a promising tool to estimate the starch content

Milk quality and subclinical mastitis in dairy herds in the province of Huaura, Lima Peru

El presente estudio se realizó en la provincia de Huaura, región Lima-Provincias, entre 2009 y 2010, y tuvo por objetivo determinar la calidad de leche mediante el Recuento de Células Somáticas (RCS), en tanques de leche de tres establos y cuatro asociaciones de pequeños ganaderos, en dos épocas del año. Asimismo, evaluar la mastitis subclínica en 32 establos (2100 vacas), utilizando la prueba de California Mastitis Test (CMT), teniendo en consideración el número de parto, tamaño del establo y momento de lactancia. No hubo diferencia estadística entre los RCS de establos (755.4 ± 46.9 x 103 células/ ml) con los valores de las asociaciones de pequeños ganaderos (752.1 ± 41.1 x 103 células/ ml); sin embargo hubo diferencias entre establos (p<0.05). El RCS en el verano (957.1 ± 54.1 x 103 células/ml) fue superior al obtenido en el invierno (550.3 ± 35.5 x 103 células/ml) (p< 0.05). Una mayor proporción de cuartos afectados con mastitis subclínica se observó en los establos medianos y grandes en comparación a los pequeños (52.6 y 49.9% vs 29.8%, respectivamente) (p<0.05), en vacas con más de dos partos en comparación a vacas con 1 y 2 partos (40.8, 32.8 y 24.8%, respectivamente) (p<0.05), y en vacas al final de lactancia en comparación a las de lactancia media e inicial (40.3, 38.2 y 23.2%, respectivamente) (p<0.05). La leche proveniente de los establos y asociaciones de ganaderos de la zona de Huaura no cumple las normas técnicas de calidad de la legislación peruana en términos de RCS. La mastitis subclínica estuvo asociada al tamaño del establo, número de parto y momento de lactancia.This research was conducted in the province of Huaura, Lima-Peru in 2009-2010 to determine the quality of milk through Somatic Cell Count (SCC) in milk tanks of three dairy herds and four small farmer associations in two seasons of the year, and to assess subclinical mastitis by the California Mastitis Test (CMT) in 32 farms (2100 cows), considering parity, herd size and lactation phase. No statistical difference was found between large dairy herds (755.4 ± 46.9 x 103 cells/ml) and farmer associations (752.1 ± 41.1 x 103 cells/ml); however, there were differences between farms (p <0.05). The RCS in summer (957.1 ± 54.1 x 103 cells/ml) was higher than in winter (550.3 ± 35.5 x 103 cells/ml) (p <0.05). A greater proportion of CMT positive quarters were observed in medium and large herds compared to small herds (52.6 and 49.9% vs 29.8% respectively) (p <0.05), in cows with >2 parities in comparison to 1st and 2nd calvers (40.8 vs 32.8 and 24.8% respectively) (p <0.05), and in cows in late lactation compared to mid and early lactation (40.3 vs 38.2, and 23.2% respectively) (p<0.05). Milk from Huaura dairy farms associations does not meet the Peruvian quality standards in terms of RCS. Subclinical mastitis was associated with herd size, parity, and time of lactation

Image-based sensing of salt stress in grapevine

Grapevine is among the most economically important crops suffering environmental constraints, including drought and salt stress. Although imaging is increasingly used to detect abiotic stress in agriculture, image-based phenotyping in grapevine still needs optimisation. This study presents the RGB-(red, green, blue)-based phenotyping of the early stage of salt stress response in potted grapevine (Aleatico/SO4) irrigated with saline water (100 mM NaCl) for 9 days in contrast with vines irrigated with fresh water. The response was measured using stomatal conductance (gs), net photosynthetic rate (A), transpiration (E), maximum potential photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm), stem water potential (SWP) concurrently with RGB imaging via a robotised platform. The image-based phenotyping of salt-stressed vines employed two sets of measurements: (i) the pixel fraction of specific colour bands (Yellow, Green, Brown and Dark Green) and (ii) the mean pixel value of R, G and B and other RGB-based colorimetric indexes. Results show that the responses of gs, A, E, Fv/Fm were closely related to increasing soil electrical conductivity (EC) and that imaging could detect the EC threshold of approx. 4 dS m-1 causing a 60 % decrease in these physiological traits compared to the pre-stress level. The SWP declined to about -0.7 MPa at the end of the experiment. The change of the relative pixel fraction of Dark Green to increasing EC has been analysed within a dose-response context, showing that a decrease of 1 % of the Dark Green colour band corresponded to the 4 dS m-1 EC threshold. This study also examined the use of the mean pixel value of the R, G and B channels as proxies of EC along with new RGB-based indexes resulting from the rearrangement of original R, G and B mean pixel values. Results show the suitability of the mean pixel value of R and Coloration Index [(R-B)/R] to serve as predictors of EC (R2 >= 0.80)

Analisi di alcune variabili climatiche nel periodo 1951-2022 in ambiente mediterraneo ed implicazioni per le coltivazioni arboree

Agriculture is affected by climate change as a result of the interaction between plant physiology and climatic variables including precipitation and air temperatures. This work reports the analysis of the 1951-2022 time series focusing on air temperature (minimum and maximum) and rainfall recorded in Metaponto (Basilicata Region), an important fruit and vegetable growing area. The analysis also focused the cumulated chilling hours and the climatic anomalies determined with respect to the 30-year average (1961-1991). Results reveal a significant increasing trend of temperatures particularly after 1980, and reducing cumulated chilling hours. Possible adaptation strategies are discusse

Migration of surgical clips through a right lobectomy stump mimicking an asthmatic syndrome

The mechanical stapler is routinely used in thoracic surgery practice to attend resection of bronchus and vessels. Herein, we reported a very rare complication as the migration of a titanium surgical clip through a right lobectomy stump. One year after the procedure, the patient complained of persistent cough. A misdiagnosis of asthma was made and she treated for 6 months with bronchodilators, corticosteroid and antihistaminic without success. Thus, patient re-referred of our unit. No clinical signs of infection as fewer, productive cough, dyspnea were present. The laboratory exams were within normal value including white cells. CT scan revealed no abnormalities. Bronchoscopy demonstrated a healed upper bronchus stump without evidence of an actual, open bronchopleural fistula but with clips apparently working their way into the airway, with approximately half of the clip visible within the lumen. The side of the clips that would be open before closure by the surgeon formed the leading edge of the clips visible in the lumen. The clips were successfully removed during flexible bronchoscopy with a forceps usually used for biopsy. After the procedure, the cough disappeared. The endoscopy check after 3 months showed a normal bronchial stump without evidence of fistula

A Systematic Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation Patients with Diabetes Using a Risk Index

Diabetes mellitus (DM) represents an independent risk factor for chronic AF and is associated with unfavorable outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), with and without diabetes mellitus (DM), using a new risk index (RI) defined as: RI = Rate of Events/Rate of Patients at Risk. In particular, an RI lower than 1 suggests a favorable treatment effect. We searched MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, EMBASE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The risk index (RI) was calculated in terms of efficacy (rate of stroke/systemic embolism (stroke SEE)/rate of patients with and without DM; rate of cardiovascular death/rate of patients with and without DM) and safety (rate of major bleeding/rate of patients with and without DM) outcomes. AF patients with DM (n = 22,057) and 49,596 without DM were considered from pivotal trials. DM doubles the risk index for stroke/SEE, major bleeding (MB), and cardiovascular (CV) death. The RI for stroke/SEE, MB, and CV death was comparable in patients treated with warfarin or DOACs. The lowest RI was in DM patients treated with Rivaroxaban (stroke/SEE, RI = 0.08; CV death, RI = 0.13). The RIs for bleeding were higher in DM patients treated with Dabigatran (RI110 = 0.32; RI150 = 0.40). Our study is the first to use RI to homogenize the efficacy and safety data reported in the DOACs pivotal studies against warfarin in patients with and without DM. Anticoagulation therapy is effective and safe in DM patients. DOACs appear to have a better efficacy and safety profile than warfarin. The use of DOACs is a reasonable alternative to vitamin-K antagonists in AF patients with DM. The RI can be a reasonable tool to help clinicians choose between DOACs or warfarin in the peculiar set of AF patients with DM

Incubación de huevos de pavo: efecto del método de desinfección y edad de la reproductora

The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of the egg disinfection method and breeder age on incubation parameters in a turkey breeder farm. Two disinfection methods were evaluated: T1, fumigation with formaldehyde gas (8 g/m3) and T2, wetting with a glutaraldehyde + quaternary ammonium solution (4 ml/l of water), which were applied to hatching eggs from two batches of B.U.T breed turkeys from 51 to 57 weeks of age. A completely randomized block design with a 2x7 factorial arrangement was used. Hatchability, birth, mortality and discard parameters were determined. The disinfection method influenced the culling of hatched poults (p<0.05), where T1 achieved less culling (3%) compared to T2 (3.8%). No significant differences were observed in hatchability, births and mortality between disinfection methods. The increase in the age of the breeder generated a significant decrease (p<0.05) in hatchability and culling and increased (p<0.05) the percentage of mortality but did not influence births. It is concluded that the disinfection method only influenced the culling rate, while the age of breeders influenced hatchability, mortality and culling, but not poult births.El objetivo del estudio fue analizar la influencia del método de desinfección de huevos y edad de la reproductora sobre los parámetros de incubación en una granja reproductora de pavos. Se evaluaron dos métodos de desinfección: T1, fumigación con gas formaldehído (8 g/m3) y T2, humectación con una solución de glutaraldehído + amonio cuaternario (4 ml/l de agua), que se aplicaron a huevos incubables provenientes de dos lotes de pavas de la raza B.U.T de 51 a 57 semanas de edad. Se utilizó un diseño de bloques completamente al azar con arreglo factorial 2x7. Se determinaron los parámetros de incubabilidad, nacimientos, mortalidad y descarte. El método de desinfección influyó en el descarte de pavitos nacidos (p<0.05), donde T1 logró menor descarte (3%) respecto al T2 (3.8%). No se encontraron diferencias significativas en la incubabilidad, nacimientos y mortalidad entre métodos de desinfección. El incremento de la edad de la reproductora generó una disminución significativa (p<0.05) en la incubabilidad y el descarte e incrementó (p<0.05) el porcentaje de mortalidad, pero no influyó sobre los nacimientos. Se concluye que el método de desinfección sólo influyó en la tasa de descarte, mientras que la edad de las reproductoras influyó en la incubabilidad, mortalidad y descarte, pero no sobre los nacimientos de pavitos

Relation Between Wound Complication and Lymphocele After Kidney Transplantation: A Monocentric Study

Introduction: Wound complication frequently arises after kidney transplantation and its risk factors are well known. In a previous paper we analyzed these factors, and in this new retrospective study we evaluate the influence of lymphocele in the development of wound complications. Patients and methods: From January 2000 to December 2018, 731 consecutive kidney transplants have been performed in our center. We have analyzed the incidence of wound complication and lymphocele and their risk factors. Results: Out of 731 kidney transplants, we have observed wound complications in 115 patients (15.7%) and lymphocele in 158 patients (21.7%). Of these, 70 patients developed both complications (9.5%), but 6 patients have been excluded because they were in therapy with mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors. Twenty-nine patients (45.3%) presented a first level and 35 patients (54.7%) showed second level wound complications. Lymphocele was the only present factor in just 3 cases (4.6%). The other patients showed diabetes in 28 cases (43.7%), overweight/obesity in 38 (59.3%), delayed graft function in 17 (26.5%), and 60 years or more in 38 (57.8%). The association has been found in 30 out 64 patients treated with tacrolimus (46.8%) and in 34 with cyclosporine (53.1%); 40 patients did not receive muscular layer's reconstruction (62.5%). Conclusion: Our experience shows that lymphocele alone is not a predisposing factor for wound dehiscence after kidney transplantation, and they often coexist because they share the same risk factors, the most important being obesity, diabetes and delayed graft function, older age, and surgical techniques. No relation has been observed with calcineurin inhibitor therapy

Late onset of hypoxemia due to a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation during selective estrogen receptor modulator therapy.

A76-year-old woman with unexplained hypoxemia and severe exertional dyspnea was admitted to our department. The symptoms had appeared during tamoxifen therapy after resection of breast carcinoma; history revealed recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding, epistaxis, and a granddaughter deceased because of a cerebral arteriovenous malformation. Chest computed tomography scan showed the presence of a highly vascularized nodule in the right lower lobe. Right pulmonary artery angiography demonstrated a large pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) (Online Video 1) with massive right-to-left shunt (A, B, C; Online Video 2); this confirmed the diagnosis of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (1). The arrows point to the right upper pulmonary vein. We decided to percutaneously close the PAVM. An occlusion test was performed before the procedure (D); O2 saturation rose from 87% to 96%. The PAVM was subsequently closed using a vascular occlusion device (E) with complete abolishment of the right-to-left shunt (F; Online Video 3). It is likely that selective estrogen receptor modulator therapy may have been responsible for the enlargement of the PAVM in our patient (2)