Exploration of essential oils as alternatives to conventional fungicides in lupin cultivation

Lupin (Lupinus L.) has the potential to become a true alternative for soybean as protein source, especially in the more temperate regions in the world. However, diseases such as anthracnose (Colletotrichum lupini), gray mold (Botrytis cinerea), and root rot or brown spot (Pleiochaeta setosa) are important threats for lupin production, leading to yield and quality losses. Although conventional fungicides offer a solution to these problems, there is a growing interest in the use of alternative (biological) treatments. In this research, the applicability of four pure plant essential oils (clove oil, juniper oil, tea tree oil, and thyme essential oil) and timbor® (a Thymus vulgaris-derived plant extract) as alternatives for synthetic fungicides towards the lupin pathogens—C. lupini, B. cinerea, and P. setosa—was investigated. The anti-fungal effect of juniper oil was limited, whereas the other oils and timbor® clearly suppressed the growth and spore germination of all fungi. The in vitro experiments revealed that thyme essential oil and timbor® were most effective to inhibit conidial germination and mycelium growth. Furthermore, the results of the pot experiments demonstrated that these Thymus-derived compounds were able to suppress P. setosa brown spot and root rot symptoms. Additional trials are necessary to evaluate the effect of these compounds under field conditions. However, based on these in vitro and pot experiments, it can be concluded that pure essential oils and Thymus-derived plant extracts are promising anti-fungal agents, having the potential to become true alternatives for conventional fungicides in lupin cultivation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the potential of plant-derived compounds to treat the main diseases affecting lupin production

Neurophysiological investigations of drug resistant epilepsy patients treated with vagus nerve stimulation to differentiate responders from non-responders

Background and purpose In patients treated with vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for drug resistant epilepsy (DRE), up to a third of patients will eventually not respond to the therapy. As VNS therapy requires surgery for device implantation, prediction of response prior to surgery is desirable. It is hypothesized that neurophysiological investigations related to the mechanisms of action of VNS may help to differentiate VNS responders from non-responders prior to the initiation of therapy. Methods In a prospective series of DRE patients, polysomnography, heart rate variability (HRV) and cognitive event related potentials were recorded. Polysomnography and HRV were repeated after 1 year of treatment with VNS. Polysomnography, HRV and cognitive event related potentials were compared between VNS responders (>= 50% reduction in seizure frequency) and non-responders. Results Fifteen out of 30 patients became VNS responders after 1 year of VNS treatment. Prior to treatment with VNS, the amount of deep sleep (NREM 3), the HRV high frequency (HF) power and the P3b amplitude were significantly different in responders compared to non-responders (P = 0.007; P = 0.001; P = 0.03). Conclusion Three neurophysiological parameters, NREM 3, HRV HF and P3b amplitude, were found to be significantly different in DRE patients who became responders to VNS treatment prior to initiation of their treatment with VNS. These non-invasive recordings may be used as characteristics for response in future studies and help avoid unsuccessful implantations. Mechanistically these findings may be related to changes in brain regions involved in the so-called vagal afferent network

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in drug‐resistant idiopathic epilepsy of dogs : a noninvasive neurostimulation technique

Background Although repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been assessed in epileptic humans, clinical trials in epileptic dogs can provide additional insight. Objectives Evaluate the potential antiepileptic effect of rTMS in dogs. Animals Twelve client-owned dogs with drug-resistant idiopathic epilepsy (IE). Methods Single-blinded randomized sham-controlled clinical trial (dogs allocated to active or sham rTMS) (I) and open-labeled uncontrolled clinical trial (dogs received active rTMS after sham rTMS) (II). Monthly seizure frequency (MSF), monthly seizure day frequency (MSDF), and number of cluster seizures (CS) were evaluated for a 3-month pre-TMS and post-rTMS period and safety was assessed. The lasting effect period of rTMS was assessed in each dog treated by active stimulation using the MSF ratio (proportion of post-TMS to pre-rTMS MSF) and treatment was considered effective if the ratio was No adverse effects were reported. In trial I, MSF and MSDF decreased significantly (P= .04) in the active group (n = 7). In the sham group (n = 5), no significant changes were found (P= .84 and .29, respectively). Cluster seizures did not change significantly in either group. No significant differences were detected between the groups. In trial II, previously sham-treated dogs (n = 5) received active rTMS and significant decreases in MSF and MSDF were noted (P= .03 and .008, respectively). The overall effect of rTMS lasted for 4 months; thereafter, the MSF ratio was >1. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may be a safe adjunctive treatment option for dogs with drug-resistant IE, but large-scale studies are needed to establish firm conclusions