Maize intercropped with Urochloa ruziziensis under no-tillage system

The no-tillage system is a conservation practice that seeks greater sustainability of the production system and can be replicated in large land areas. Maize intercropped with forages of the Urochloa genus has proven to be profitable and suitable for targeting both the straw and grain production. This study aimed at evaluating maize yield and cover plants, using different maize row spacings and forage seeding methods, under a no-tillage system. A randomized blocks design, in a 2 x 3 + 2 factorial scheme, with four replications, was used. The treatments consisted of two maize row spacings (0.45 m and 0.90 m) intercropped with Urochloa ruziziensis, using three different methods (Urochloa sown in the row, Urochloa sown by hauling soon after maize was sown and Urochloa sown during the maize V4 growth stage) + controls (only maize at two spacings). The intercropping between maize spaced 0.90 m with Urochloa ruziziensis in the sowing row provided better grain yield results without interfering with the Urochloa dry matter production

MicroRNAs involvement in fludarabine refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fludarabine, is one of the most active single agents in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Over time, however, virtually all CLL patients become fludarabine-refractory. To elucidate whether microRNAs are involved in the development of fludarabine resistance, we analyzed the expression of 723 human miRNAs before and 5-days after fludarabine mono-therapy in 17 CLL patients which were classified as responder or refractory to fludarabine treatment based on NCI criteria.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>By comparing the expression profiles of these two groups of patients, we identified a microRNA signature able to distinguish refractory from sensitive CLLs. The expression of some microRNAs was also able to predict fludarabine resistance of 12 independent CLL patients. Among the identified microRNAs, miR-148a, miR-222 and miR-21 exhibited a significantly higher expression in non-responder patients either before and after fludarabine treatment. After performing messenger RNA expression profile of the same patients, the activation of p53-responsive genes was detected in fludarabine responsive cases only, therefore suggesting a possible mechanism linked to microRNA deregulation in non-responder patients. Importantly, inhibition of miR-21 and miR-222 by anti-miRNA oligonucleotides induced a significant increase in caspase activity in fludarabine-treated p53-mutant MEG-01 cells, suggesting that miR-21 and miR-222 up-regulation may be involved in the establishment of fludarabine resistance.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This is the first report that reveals the existence of a microRNA profile that differentiate refractory and sensitive CLLs, either before and after fludarabine mono-therapy. A p53 dysfunctional pathway emerged in refractory CLLs and could contribute in explaining the observed miRNA profile. Moreover, this work indicates that specific microRNAs can be used to predict fludarabine resistance and may potentially be used as therapeutic targets, therefore establishing an important starting point for future studies.</p

Convalescent plasma for COVID-19 in hospitalised patients : an open-label, randomised clinical trial

Background: The effects of convalescent plasma (CP) therapy in hospitalised patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain uncertain. This study investigates the effect of CP on clinical improvement in these patients. Methods: This is an investigator-initiated, randomised, parallel arm, open-label, superiority clinical trial. Patients were randomly (1:1) assigned to two infusions of CP plus standard of care (SOC) or SOC alone. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with clinical improvement 28 days after enrolment. Results: A total of 160 (80 in each arm) patients (66.3% critically ill, 33.7% severely ill) completed the trial. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) age was 60.5 (48–68) years; 58.1% were male and the median (IQR) time from symptom onset to randomisation was 10 (8–12) days. Neutralising antibody titres >1:80 were present in 133 (83.1%) patients at baseline. The proportion of patients with clinical improvement on day 28 was 61.3% in the CP+SOC group and 65.0% in the SOC group (difference −3.7%, 95% CI −18.8–11.3%). The results were similar in the severe and critically ill subgroups. There was no significant difference between CP+SOC and SOC groups in pre-specified secondary outcomes, including 28-day mortality, days alive and free of respiratory support and duration of invasive ventilatory support. Inflammatory and other laboratory marker values on days 3, 7 and 14 were similar between groups. Conclusions: CP+SOC did not result in a higher proportion of clinical improvement on day 28 in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 compared to SOC alone

Predicting Sugarcane Biometric Parameters by UAV Multispectral Images and Machine Learning

Multispectral sensors onboard unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have proven accurate and fast to predict sugarcane yield. However, challenges to a reliable approach still exist. In this study, we propose to predict sugarcane biometric parameters by using machine learning (ML) algorithms and multitemporal data through the analysis of multispectral images from UAV onboard sensors. The research was conducted on five varieties of sugarcane, as a way to make a robust approach. Multispectral images were collected every 40 days and the evaluated biometric parameters were: number of tillers (NT), plant height (PH), and stalk diameter (SD). Two ML models were used: multiple linear regression (MLR) and random forest (RF). The results showed that models for predicting sugarcane NT, PH, and SD using time series and ML algorithms had accurate and precise predictions. Blue, Green, and NIR spectral bands provided the best performance in predicting sugarcane biometric attributes. These findings expand the possibilities for using multispectral UAV imagery in predicting sugarcane yield, particularly by including biophysical parameters

Richter's syndrome in a case of atypical chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with the t(11;14)(q13;q32): role for a p53 exon 7 gene mutation

Clinicobiological, histological, cytogenetic and molecular genetic studies were performed in a case of atypical B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) with the t(11;14)(q13;q32) evolving into Richter's syndrome (RS) in order (a) to determine the clonal relationship between the cell of origin for B-CLL and RS, and (b) to analyse genetic events underlying the disease progression in this patient. After 4 years following diagnosis, a rapid deterioration of the clinical picture occurred, concomitant with the appearance of large lymphoid blasts in peripheral blood (PB), bone marrow (BM) and ascites samples. A diagnosis of RS was made and cytogenetic analysis revealed karyotype evolution with trisomy 7 and del(17p) in addition to t(11;14). Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed 78% lymphoid blast cells obtained from ascites sample to be trisomic using a chromosome-7-specific pericentromeric probe. Whereas no rearrangement of the c-myc proto-oncogene was detected at disease progression, direct sequencing of p53 gene exon 5-9 revealed an exon 7 missense point mutation. This abnormality was not present in the CLL phase. Immunological staining with the monoclonal antibody PAb-1801, detecting the p53 protein product, revealed a negative pattern in the CLL phase, whereas 24% positivity was documented in representative samples obtained at RS. It is concluded that RS was cytogenetically related with B-CLL in this patient, suggesting the occurrence of a bona fide transformation and that the mutation of p53 exon 7, in association with the development of 17p deletion, possibly played a role in the development of RS

Exposure to myelotoxic agents and myelodysplasia: case-control study and correlation with clinicobiological findings.

To better define the role of exposure to myelotoxic agents in the genesis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), we carried out (a) a case-control study for the determination of the relative risk (RR) of developing MDS, including 178 consecutive patients and 178 sex- and age-matched controls: (b) a study of clinicobiological features in MDS arising after occupational exposure to myelotoxic agents and in MDS in 'non-exposed' patients. The definition of the 'exposure' status was based on a predetermined questionnaire, with calculation of an 'exposure' index (hours/day x days/year x years). Cumulative exposure to pesticides or to organic solvents, for >2400 h, was recorded in 48 and 25 MDS patients, respectively, compared to 27 and four controls (P<0.00001; RR 3.74; 95% confidence interval 2.02-5.37). Older age and an excess of refractory anaemia with ringed sideroblasts and refractory anaemia with excess of blasts was noted among 'exposed' MDS-patients (group 1), compared to non-exposed MDS-patients (group 2). 68.3% patients in group 1 had clonal chromosome changes, compared with 43.2% patients in group 2. Complex karyotypes, -7/7q-, -5/5q-, +8, 7p and 17p aberrations were seen more frequently in group 1, whereas a normal karyotype, isolated 5q- or 20q- occurred more frequently in group 2. The association of exposure to myelotoxic agents with older age at presentation and with unfavourable chromosome changes accounted for the shorter survival observed in 'exposed' patients. These data show that occupational exposure to pesticides and organic solvents in our region resulted in an increased RR of developing MDS and that a distinct cytogenetic profile was associated with MDS in 'exposed' patients. These findings provide strong indirect evidence that these agents may play a role in the pathogenesis of MDS, preferentially targeting some of the chromosome regions which are frequently involved in therapy-related myeloid neoplasia