Hypothèses et réflexions sur la dégradation des écosystèmes forestiers dans la région de Tlemcen (Algérie)

Les écosystèmes forestiers de la région de Tlemcen sont tous dégradés, à 20 ha près. L'article montre comment s'évalue cette dégradation et envisage quelles en sont les causes (climat, homme ?)

Study of the Molecular Biodiversity of the Saharan Bread Wheat in Algeria

Climate change has significantly affected wheat yield. Many studies have suggested that rising temperatures could be harmful to cereals around the world. Thus, the valorization of the desert wheat resources is essential to improve the resistance of this species to climate change. In this context, twenty-eight different local Saharan bread wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) genotypes were described using ten preselected SSR markers. The tested SSRs produced a total number of 20 alleles with an allelic size ranged from 100 pb (WMC261) to 400 pb (WMC257). The allele frequency varied from 0.1 for the allele 230 pb (WMC156) to 1 for the alleles 187 pb, 310 pb (WMC97, WMC168). Likewise, the PIC values ranged from 0 (WMC97, WMC168) to 0.5 (WMC327, WMC233), with an average of 0.34 and the observed heterozygosity (Ho) from 0 to 0.88, with an average of 0.55. The molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed the highest level of intra-population differentiation of local Saharan bread wheat (97%) and the statistical geometric distributions based on PCoA, NJ method and structure analysis confirmed the existence of four major classes of bread wheat. These results substantiate the previous researches based on the morphological markers and contribute for the first time in Algeria to create the genetic fingerprint of the Saharan bread wheat resources and to valorize their drought resistance potential through breeding programs

Inference of breed structure in farm animals: Empirical comparison between snp and microsatellite performance

Knowledge of population structure is essential to improve the management and conservation of farm animal genetic resources. Microsatellites, which have long been popular for this type of analysis, are more and more neglected in favor of whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chips that are now available for the main farmed animal species. In this study, we compared genetic patterns derived from microsatellites to that inferred by SNPs, considering three pairs of datasets of sheep and cattle. Population genetic differentiation analyses (Fixation index, FST ), as well as STRUCTURE analyses showed a very strong consistency between the two types of markers. Microsatellites gave pictures that were largely concordant with SNPs, although less accurate. The best concordance was found in the most complex dataset, which included 17 French sheep breeds (with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.95 considering the 136 values of pairwise FST, obtained with both types of markers). The use of microsatellites reduces the cost and the related analyses do not require specific computer equipment (i.e., information technology (IT) infrastructure able to provide adequate computing and storage capacity). Therefore, this tool may still be a very appropriate solution to evaluate, in a first stage, the general state of livestock at national scales. At a time when local breeds are disappearing at an alarming rate, it is urgent to improve our knowledge of them, in particular by promoting tools accessible to the greatest number

Impact of Vutrisiran on Quality of Life and Physical Function in Patients with Hereditary Transthyretin-Mediated Amyloidosis with Polyneuropathy

INTRODUCTION: Hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv; v for variant) amyloidosis, also known as hATTR amyloidosis, is a progressive and fatal disease associated with rapid deterioration of physical function and patients' quality of life (QOL). Vutrisiran, a subcutaneously administered RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic that reduces hepatic production of transthyretin, was assessed in patients with ATTRv amyloidosis with polyneuropathy in the pivotal HELIOS-A study. METHODS: The phase 3 open-label HELIOS-A study investigated the efficacy and safety of vutrisiran in patients with ATTRv amyloidosis with polyneuropathy, compared with an external placebo group from the APOLLO study of the RNAi therapeutic patisiran. Measures of QOL and physical function were assessed. RESULTS: At month 18, vutrisiran improved Norfolk Quality of Life-Diabetic Neuropathy (Norfolk QOL-DN) total score (least squares mean difference [LSMD] in change from baseline [CFB]: –21.0; p = 1.84 × 10–10) and Norfolk QOL-DN domain scores, compared with external placebo. This benefit relative to external placebo was evident across all baseline polyneuropathy disability (PND) scores and most pronounced in patients with baseline PND scores I–II. Compared with external placebo, vutrisiran also demonstrated benefit in EuroQoL-Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS) score (LSMD in CFB: 13.7; nominal p = 2.21 × 10–7), 10-m walk test (LSMD in CFB: 0.239 m/s; p = 1.21 × 10–7), Rasch-built Overall Disability Score (LSMD in CFB: 8.4; p = 3.54 × 10–15), and modified body mass index (mBMI) (LSMD in CFB: 140.7; p = 4.16 × 10–15) at month 18. Overall, Norfolk QOL-DN, EQ-VAS, and mBMI improved from pretreatment baseline with vutrisiran, whereas all measures worsened from baseline in the external placebo group. At month 18, Karnofsky Performance Status was stable/improved from baseline in 58.2/13.1% with vutrisiran versus 34.7/8.1% with external placebo. CONCLUSION: Vutrisiran treatment provided significant clinical benefits in multiple measures of QOL and physical function in patients with ATTRv amyloidosis with polyneuropathy. Benefits were most pronounced in patients with earlier-stage disease, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and treatment

Göttinger Bodenkundliche Berichte 42

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Effects of tomato leaves allelochemicals on tomato borer (Tuta absoluta Meyrick) in Tlemcen region, Algeria

We investigated the qualitative and quantitative composition of phenolic compounds in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill L.) leaves with and without infestation of tomato borer (Tuta absoluta Meyrick). Infested and healthy leaves of tomato were extracted with aqueous methanol, which was partitioned with ethyl acetate and n-butanol. Infested leaves contained higher levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols and tannins. The HPLC analysis of the nbutanol fraction indicated that the leaves contained the catechin and two unknown compounds, which are likely to be phytoalexins. The protective role of these molecules need to be investigated, to incorporate this finding in the tomato breeding programmes against the tomato borer.Fil: Bouklikha, A.. Tlemcen University; ArgeliaFil: Gaouar Benyelles, N.. Tlemcen University; ArgeliaFil: Sampietro, Diego Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Estudios Vegetales. Cátedra de Fitoquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentin

Using Therapeutic Circles to Visualize Guideline-Based Therapeutic Recommendations for Patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions: A Case Study with GO-DSS on Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes, and Dyslipidemia.

Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) have proven to potentially improve the compliance of physician decisions with clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). However, actual patients suffer from multiple conditions and CPGs that are usually single-disease-focused provide disease-specific recommendations with no support on how to manage adverse interactions between the recommended treatments. We have developed GO-DSS, a CDSS that implements an ontological reasoning process to perform CPG reconciliation. GO-DSS is applied to the concurrent management of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. We proposed an innovative graphical interface to display medication recommendations as "therapeutic circles". A qualitative evaluation of the system and of this graphical layout has been performed on simulated patient cases by a sample of 12 users with various backgrounds (think aloud method). The resulting usability of the system is highly appreciated with a mean rating of 90.7% according to the standardized System Usability Scale