Effects on Berry Shrinkage in Vitis vinifera. L cv. ‘Merlot’ From Changes in Canopy/Root Ratio: A Preliminary Approach

A trial was conducted to find a possible relationship between the canopy/root ratio and the incidence and severity of premature berry shrinkage, and to propose an alternative to avoid this phenomenon in ‘Merlot’ grapevines. The ratio was changed by cutting foliage at a certain height 15 days before véraison, and by delaying the removal of trunk shoots. Treatments were the control (T1), 50% foliage area of control (T2), 75% foliage area of control (T3), and delayed trunk shoot removal (T4). Foliage area and the canopy/root ratio were lower in the T2 and T3 treatments. T4 was ineffective in changing the parameters. The incidence of berry shrinkage was lower for the T2 and T3 treatments, with the percentage of affected plants dropping from the 52% of the control to 22.9% and 31.3% for T2 and T3 respectively, and from 52.4% of the affected bunches to 16.6% and 21.2% for the same treatments respectively. The percentage of affected bunches falling into the range of moderate to severe damage fell from the 24% of the control to 5.2% and 3.9% for T2 and T3 respectively. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the incidence and severity of berry shrinkage by decreasing the canopy/root ratio in ‘Merlot’ grapevines

UV-B Radiation as a Factor that Deserves Further Research in Bolivian Viticulture: A Review

Bolivian viticulture has acquired an incipient notoriety in the international wine market due to theproduction of high-altitude wines with a high antioxidant potential. Andes agricultural regions presentan advantage for wine production since UV-B radiation reaching the earth’s surface increases withaltitude and varies with latitude, promoting the activation of plant defense mechanisms responsible forthe synthesis of secondary metabolites. UV‐B radiation upregulates the biosynthesis of nitrogen, phenolicand volatile compounds that contribute to wine flavour. It is thought that the incident UV-B radiationin the Bolivian valleys makes it possible to obtain wines with high phenolic and aromatic potential, butthe published results are not entirely conclusive. This manuscript addressed the geological and climaticfeatures that affect Bolivian viticulture, and we reviewed the field studies carried out regarding the effectsof altitude and UV-B radiation on flavour components of grapes and wines from Bolivian viticulturalvalleys. A high antioxidant capacity and trans-resveratrol content is found in grapes and wines from highaltitude Bolivian vineyards, including if they are compared to those samples from different wine countries.However, high UV-B radiation can result in bunch sunburn affecting some physico-chemical parameters ofthe produced wines. Scarce number of studies have been developed in this field despite this region presenta valuable potential for research in order to quantify the effects of biologically damaging radiation on thesynthesis of flavour components in grapes and some of them were not well scientifically controlled

Foliar Application of Several Nitrogen Sources as Fertilisers to Tempranillo Grapevines: Effect on Wine Volatile Composition

Foliar nitrogen applications to the vineyard make it possible to improve grape and wine phenolic and amino acid concentration. However, to our knowledge, there is little information about their impacts on the volatile composition of wine. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of the application of several nitrogen sources in Tempranillo vineyards on wine volatile composition during the first season. Subsequently, two dosages of phenylalanine and urea were applied to the vineyard with the aim of evaluating their effect on wine volatile composition. The results show that the different nitrogen sources applied to the grapevines during the first season did not affect higher alcohols, fatty acids, esters and other volatile compounds in the wines. The two dosages of phenylalanine and urea applied to the vineyard during the second vintage barely affected wine volatile composition. Consequently, this study shows that foliar nitrogen treatments in vineyards did not modify the wine aromatic profile

Hydric behaviour and gas exchange in different grapevine varieties (Vitis vinifera L.) from the Maule Valley (Chile)

In the near future, stomatal behaviour will be crucial to counteract conditions arising from climate change.  Grapevine varieties are classified as either isohydric or anisohydric, depending on the sensitivity of stomatato water deficit and on their water potential homeostasis. However, the great variability observed in different studies indicates that a continuum exists in the range of stomatal sensitivity to water stress. Thus, more knowledge about the hydric behaviour and the gas exchange of isohydric and anisohydric grapevine varieties under different water conditions could lead to the development of irrigation strategies oriented at improving water-use efficiency, yield and berry composition. In this study, research was conducted in order to characterise the stomatal regulation of four different Vitis vinifera L. varieties, namely Pinot noir, Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay and Merlot, according to soil water status. Measurements of leaf gas exchange, together with measurements of stem water potential (Ψs) and leaf water potential (Ψl), were taken during two seasons. Under conditions of water stress, Chardonnay and Merlot reached a minimum Ψs of -1.67 and -1.68 MPa respectively, and higher levels of water-use efficiency (AN/gs), of 62.3 and 69.7 μmol CO2/mol H2O respectively. In Sauvignon blanc and Pinot noir, the minimum Ψs was -1.26 and -1.40 MParespectively, with lower levels of AN/gs (53.1 and 50.5 μmol CO2/mol H2O, respectively). Under conditions of water stress (Ψl < -0.9 MPa and Ψs < -0.6 MPa), all varieties had a significantly increased AN/gs1, despitea significant reduction in gas exchange. Therefore, the hydric behaviour and gas exchange observed in this study suggest that Chardonnay and Merlot could be characterised as anisohydric varieties, as they present less sensitive stomatal control, while Pinot noir can be classified as a near-anisohydric variety and Sauvignon blanc as an isohydric variety. New investigations should consider other characteristics of the varieties to classify them better

The Latin American experience of allografting patients with severe aplastic anaemia: real-world data on the impact of stem cell source and ATG administration in HLA-identical sibling transplants

We studied 298 patients with severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) allografted in four Latin American countries. The source of cells was bone marrow (BM) in 94 patients and PBSCs in 204 patients. Engraftment failed in 8.1% of recipients with no difference between BM and PBSCs (P = 0.08). Incidence of acute GvHD (aGvHD) for BM and PBSCs was 30% vs 32% (P = 0.18), and for grades III–IV was 2.6% vs 11.6% (P = 0.01). Chronic GvHD (cGvHD) between BM and PBSCs was 37% vs 59% (P = 0.002) and extensive 5% vs 23.6% (P = 0.01). OS was 74% vs 76% for BM vs PBSCs (P = 0.95). Event-free survival was superior in patients conditioned with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG)-based regimens compared with other regimens (79% vs 61%, P = 0.001) as excessive secondary graft failure was seen with other regimens (10% vs 26%, P = 0.005) respectively. In multivariate analysis, aGvHD II–IV (hazard ratio (HR) 2.50, confidence interval (CI) 1.1–5.6, P = 0.02) and aGvHD III–IV (HR 8.3 CI 3.4–20.2, Po0.001) proved to be independent negative predictors of survival. In conclusion, BM as a source of cells and ATG-based regimens should be standard because of higher GvHD incidence with PBSCs, although the latter combining with ATG in the conditioning regimen could be an option in selected high-risk patient

Parasitosis zoonóticas en un asentamiento a orillas del Río de La Plata

El barrio “El Molino”, alberga una población precarizada con conductas higiénico-sanitarias inadecuadas para la salud. El equipo de trabajo integra proyectos de Voluntariado Universitario, Extensión Universitaria e Incentivos docentes destinados a contribuir en la prevención, diagnóstico y mejora sanitaria del lugar, integrados por docentes y alumnos de 4 Facultades de la UNLP. Objetivo Diagnosticar parasitosis zoonóticas en la población de un área de riesgo sanitario y analizar su relación con diversos factores de riesgo.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030