45 research outputs found
Selected reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzymes in common bean after Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola and Botrytis cinerea infection
Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Korona plants were
inoculated with the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae pv.
phaseolicola (Psp), necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea
(Bc) or with both pathogens sequentially. The aim of the
experiment was to determine how plants cope with multiple
infection with pathogens having different attack strategy.
Possible suppression of the non-specific infection with
the necrotrophic fungus Bc by earlier Psp inoculation was
examined. Concentration of reactive oxygen species
(ROS), such as superoxide anion (O2
-) and H2O2 and
activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase
(SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) were
determined 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after inoculation. The
measurements were done for ROS cytosolic fraction and
enzymatic cytosolic or apoplastic fraction. Infection with
Psp caused significant increase in ROS levels since the
beginning of experiment. Activity of the apoplastic
enzymes also increased remarkably at the beginning of
experiment in contrast to the cytosolic ones. Cytosolic
SOD and guaiacol peroxidase (GPOD) activities achieved
the maximum values 48 h after treatment. Additional forms
of the examined enzymes after specific Psp infection were
identified; however, they were not present after single Bc
inoculation. Subsequent Bc infection resulted only in
changes of H2O2 and SOD that occurred to be especially
important during plantâpathogen interaction. Cultivar Korona
of common bean is considered to be resistant to Psp and mobilises its system upon infection with these bacteria.
We put forward a hypothesis that the extent of defence
reaction was so great that subsequent infection did not
trigger significant additional response
Embryogenesis in Sedum acre L.: structural and immunocytochemical aspects of suspensor development
The changes in the formation of both the actin and the microtubular cytoskeleton during the differentiation of the embryo-suspensor in Sedum acre were studied in comparison with the development of the embryo-proper. The presence and distribution of the cytoskeletal elements were examined ultrastructurally and with the light microscope using immunolabelling and rhodamine-phalloidin staining. At the globular stage of embryo development extensive array of actin filaments is present in the cytoplasm of basal cell, the microfilament bundles generally run parallel to the long axis of basal cell and pass in close to the nucleus. Microtubules form irregular bundles in the cytoplasm of the basal cell. A strongly fluorescent densely packed microtubules are present in the cytoplasmic layer adjacent to the wall separating the basal cell from the first layer of the chalazal suspensor cells. At the heart-stage of embryo development, in the basal cell, extremely dense arrays of actin materials are located near the micropylar and chalazal end of the cell. At this stage of basal cell formation, numerous actin filaments congregate around the nucleus. In the fully differentiated basal cell and micropylar haustorium, the tubulin cytoskeleton forms a dense prominent network composed of numerous cross-linked filaments. In the distal region of the basal cell, a distinct microtubular cytoskeleton with numerous microtubules is observed in the cytoplasmic layer adjacent to the wall, separating the basal cell from the first layer of the chalazal suspensor cells. The role of cytoskeleton during the development of the suspensor in S. acre is discussed
Controversies in the antiphospholipid syndrome: can we ever stop warfarin?
Patients with antiphospholipid syndrome are at increased risk for recurrent arterial and venous thrombosis and therefore benefit from long term warfarin therapy. The optimal duration of warfarin therapy after a first venous thromboembolic event is however a matter of some controversy and many questions remain unanswered. After reviewing and analysing the available evidence, we discuss some common scenarios in everyday clinical practice where treatment decisions are difficult
Effectiveness of the addition of therapeutic alliance with minimal intervention in the treatment of patients with chronic, nonspecific low back pain and low risk of involvement of psychosocial factors: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (TalkBack trial)
Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 regulates multiple myeloma cell growth and bortezomib-induced cell death
BACKGROUND:
Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (GSK-3) \u3b1 and \u3b2 are two serine-threonine kinases controlling insulin, Wnt/\u3b2-catenin, NF-\u3baB signaling and other cancer-associated transduction pathways. Recent evidence suggests that GSK-3 could function as growth-promoting kinases, especially in malignant cells. In this study, we have investigated GSK-3\u3b1 and GSK-3\u3b2 function in multiple myeloma (MM).
METHODS:
GSK-3 \u3b1 and \u3b2 expression and cellular localization were investigated by Western blot (WB) and immunofluorescence analysis in a panel of MM cell lines and in freshly isolated plasma cells from patients. MM cell growth, viability and sensitivity to bortezomib was assessed upon treatment with GSK-3 specific inhibitors or transfection with siRNAs against GSK-3 \u3b1 and \u3b2 isoforms. Survival signaling pathways were studied with WB analysis.
RESULTS:
GSK-3\u3b1 and GSK-3\u3b2 were differently expressed and phosphorylated in MM cells. Inhibition of GSK-3 with the ATP-competitive, small chemical compounds SB216763 and SB415286 caused MM cell growth arrest and apoptosis through the activation of the intrinsic pathway. Importantly, the two inhibitors augmented the bortezomib-induced MM cell cytotoxicity. RNA interference experiments showed that the two GSK-3 isoforms have distinct roles: GSK-3\u3b2 knock down decreased MM cell viability, while GSK-3\u3b1 knock down was associated with a higher rate of bortezomib-induced cytotoxicity. GSK-3 inhibition caused accumulation of \u3b2-catenin and nuclear phospho-ERK1, 2. Moreover, GSK-3 inhibition and GSK-3\u3b1 knockdown enhanced bortezomib-induced AKT and MCL-1 protein degradation. Interestingly, bortezomib caused a reduction of GSK-3 serine phosphorylation and its nuclear accumulation with a mechanism that resulted partly dependent on GSK-3 itself.
CONCLUSIONS:
These data suggest that in MM cells GSK-3\u3b1 and \u3b2 i) play distinct roles in cell survival and ii) modulate the sensitivity to proteasome inhibitors
The use of airborne laser scanning to develop a pixel-based stratification for a verified carbon offset project
Background
The voluntary carbon market is a new and growing market that is increasingly important to consider in managing forestland. Monitoring, reporting, and verifying carbon stocks and fluxes at a project level is the single largest direct cost of a forest carbon offset project. There are now many methods for estimating forest stocks with high accuracy that use both Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) and high-resolution optical remote sensing data. However, many of these methods are not appropriate for use under existing carbon offset standards and most have not been field tested. Results
This paper presents a pixel-based forest stratification method that uses both ALS and optical remote sensing data to optimally partition the variability across an ~10,000 ha forest ownership in Mendocino County, CA, USA. This new stratification approach improved the accuracy of the forest inventory, reduced the cost of field-based inventory, and provides a powerful tool for future management planning. This approach also details a method of determining the optimum pixel size to best partition a forest. Conclusions
The use of ALS and optical remote sensing data can help reduce the cost of field inventory and can help to locate areas that need the most intensive inventory effort. This pixel-based stratification method may provide a cost-effective approach to reducing inventory costs over larger areas when the remote sensing data acquisition costs can be kept low on a per acre basis
The Effect of Interpersonal Psychotherapy and other Psychodynamic Therapies versus âTreatment as Usualâ in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder afflicts an estimated 17% of individuals during their lifetimes at tremendous suffering and costs. Interpersonal psychotherapy and other psychodynamic therapies may be effective interventions for major depressive disorder, but the effects have only had limited assessment in systematic reviews.Cochrane systematic review methodology with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized trials comparing the effect of psychodynamic therapies versus âtreatment as usualâ for major depressive disorder. To be included the participants had to be older than 17 years with a primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder. Altogether, we included six trials randomizing a total of 648 participants. Five trials assessed âinterpersonal psychotherapyâ and only one trial assessed âpsychodynamic psychotherapyâ. All six trials had high risk of bias. Meta-analysis on all six trials showed that the psychodynamic interventions significantly reduced depressive symptoms on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (mean difference â3.12 (95% confidence interval â4.39 to â1.86;P<0.00001), no heterogeneity) compared with âtreatment as usualâ. Trial sequential analysis confirmed this result.We did not find convincing evidence supporting or refuting the effect of interpersonal psychotherapy or psychodynamic therapy compared with âtreatment as usualâ for patients with major depressive disorder. The potential beneficial effect seems small and effects on major outcomes are unknown. Randomized trials with low risk of systematic errors and low risk of random errors are needed
The impact of surgical delay on resectability of colorectal cancer: An international prospective cohort study
AIM: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to explore the impact of surgical delays on cancer resectability. This study aimed to compare resectability for colorectal cancer patients undergoing delayed versus non-delayed surgery. METHODS: This was an international prospective cohort study of consecutive colorectal cancer patients with a decision for curative surgery (January-April 2020). Surgical delay was defined as an operation taking place more than 4âweeks after treatment decision, in a patient who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. A subgroup analysis explored the effects of delay in elective patients only. The impact of longer delays was explored in a sensitivity analysis. The primary outcome was complete resection, defined as curative resection with an R0 margin. RESULTS: Overall, 5453 patients from 304 hospitals in 47 countries were included, of whom 6.6% (358/5453) did not receive their planned operation. Of the 4304 operated patients without neoadjuvant therapy, 40.5% (1744/4304) were delayed beyond 4âweeks. Delayed patients were more likely to be older, men, more comorbid, have higher body mass index and have rectal cancer and early stage disease. Delayed patients had higher unadjusted rates of complete resection (93.7% vs. 91.9%, PÂ =Â 0.032) and lower rates of emergency surgery (4.5% vs. 22.5%, Pâ<â0.001). After adjustment, delay was not associated with a lower rate of complete resection (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.90-1.55, PÂ =Â 0.224), which was consistent in elective patients only (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.69-1.27, PÂ =Â 0.672). Longer delays were not associated with poorer outcomes. CONCLUSION: One in 15 colorectal cancer patients did not receive their planned operation during the first wave of COVID-19. Surgical delay did not appear to compromise resectability, raising the hypothesis that any reduction in long-term survival attributable to delays is likely to be due to micro-metastatic disease
Measuring empathy in pediatrics: validation of the Visual CARE measure
Background: Empathy is a key element of âPatient and Family Centered Careâ, a clinical approach recommended
by the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, there is a lack of validated tools to evaluate paediatrician
empathy. This study aimed to validate the Visual CARE Measure, a patient rated questionnaire measuring physician
empathy, in the setting of a Pediatric Emergency Department (ED).
Methods: The empathy of physicians working in the Pediatric ED of the University Hospital of Udine, Italy, was
assessed using an Italian translation of the Visual Care Measure. This test has three versions suited to different age
groups: the 5Q questionnaire was administered to children aged 7â11, the 10Q version to those older than 11, and
the 10QâParent questionnaire to parents of children younger than 7.
The internal reliability, homogeneity and construct validity of the 5Q and 10Q/10QâParent versions of the Visual
Care Measure, were separately assessed. The influence of family background on the rating of physician empathy
and satisfaction with the clinical encounter was also evaluated.
Results: Seven physicians and 416 children and their parents were included in the study. Internal consistency
measured by Cronbachâs alpha was 0.95 for the 10Q/10QâParent versions and 0.88 for the 5Q version. The
item-total correlation was > 0.75 for each item. An exploratory factor analysis showed that all the items load
onto the first factor.
Physiciansâ empathy scores correlated with patientsâ satisfaction for both the 10Q and 10QâParent questionnaires
(Spearmanâs rho = 0.7189; p < 0.001) and for the 5Q questionnaire (Spearmanâs rho = 0.5968; p < 0,001). Trust in the
consulting physician was lower among immigrant parents (OR 0.43. 95% CI 0.20â0.93).
Conclusions: The Visual Care Measure is a reliable second-person test of physician empathy in the setting of a
Pediatric Emergency Room. More studies are needed to evaluate the reliability of this instrument in other pediatric
settings distinct from the Emergency Room and to further evaluate its utility in measuring the impact of
communication and empathy training programmes for healthcare professionals working in pediatrics