Tremor in multiple sclerosis

Tremor is estimated to occur in about 25 to 60 percent of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This symptom, which can be severely disabling and embarrassing for patients, is difficult to manage. Isoniazid in high doses, carbamazepine, propranolol and gluthetimide have been reported to provide some relief, but published evidence of effectiveness is very limited. Most trials were of small size and of short duration. Cannabinoids appear ineffective. Tremor reduction can be obtained with stereotactic thalamotomy or thalamic stimulation. However, the studies were small and information on long-term functional outcome is scarce. Physiotherapy, tremor reducing orthoses, and limb cooling can achieve some functional improvement. Tremor in MS remains a significant challenge and unmet need, requiring further basic and clinical research

ECOBREED–increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of organic crop breeding

The ECOBREED project is coordinated by the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia and is carried out in collaboration with 25 partner organisations representing 15 countries: AT, CN, CZ, DE, ES, GR, HU, IT, PL, RO, RS, SI, SK, UK and USA. ECOBREED will improve the availability of seed and varieties suitable for organic and low- input production. Activities will focus on four crop species, selected for their potential contribution to increase competitiveness of the organic sector, i.e. wheat (both common Triticum aestivum L. and durum Triticum durum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), soybean (Glycine max (L). Merr), and common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.). The project will develop (a) methods, strategies and infrastructures for organic breeding, (b) varieties with improved stress resistance, resource use efficiency and quality and (c) improved methods for the production of high-quality organic seed. The objectives of the project are: •To increase the availability of seeds and varieties for the organic and low-input sector •To identify traits and combinations of traits suited to organic and low-input production environment including high nutrient use efficiency and weed competitiveness/ allelopathy •To increase breeding activities for organic and low-input crop production. •ECOBREED will increase the competitiveness of the organic and low-input breeding and farming sectors by: •Identifying genetic and phenotypic variation in morphological, abiotic/biotic tolerance/resistance and nutritional quality traits that can be used in organic breeding •Evaluation of the potential of genetic variation for enhanced nutrient acquisition •Evaluation of the potential for increased weed competitiveness and control •Optimisation of seed production/multiplication via improved agronomic and seed treatment protocols •Developing efficient, ready-to-use farmer participatory breeding systems •Pre-breeding of elite varieties for improved agronomic performance, biotic/abiotic stress resistance/tolerance and nutritional quality •Development of training programmes in (a) genomic tools/techniques, (b) PPB and (c) use and application of improved phenotyping capabilities. •Ensuring optimum and rapid utilisation and exploitation of project deliverables and innovations by relevant industry and other user/stakeholder groups

ECOBREED: Increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of organic crop breeding

The ECOBREED project is coordinated by the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia and is carried out in collaboration with 25 partner organizations representing 15 countries: AT, CN, CZ, DE, ES, GR, HU, IT, PL, RO, RS, SI, SK, UK and USA. ECOBREED will improve the availability of seed and varieties suitable for organic and low input production. Activities will focus on four crop species, selected for their potential contribution to increase competitiveness of the organic sector: wheat (both common Triticum aestivum L. and durum Triticum durum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), soybean (Glycine max (L). Merr), and common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.)

Evolutionary relationships in the genus Secale revealed by DArTseq DNA polymorphism

Till this day, there is not much known about the phylogeny of the Secale genus; therefore, in our research, we tried to shed some lights on the issue of rye (Secale genus) taxonomy. The genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships were evaluated using 13,842 DArTseq™ polymorphic markers. The model-based clustering (STRUCTURE software) separated our 84 samples into three main clusters: perennial cluster, annual cluster, and S. sylvestre cluster. The same result was obtained using Neighbour Joining tree and self-organizing maps. Secale sylvestre, S. strictum, and S. cereale are the three main species of the Secale genus. Three samples of rye are in basal positions in phylogenetic trees. These accessions share ancient morphological characters and are probably the ancestors of different lineages within Secale. Annual Secale taxa, with the exception of S. sylvestre, create one mutual taxon. We have found out that the semi-perennial taxa of S. cereale var. multicaule and S. strictum subsp. ciliatoglume are genetically closest to the annual species of S. cereale. Phylogenetic signals for semi-perennial and annual taxa are also present in S.strictum subsp. africanum. SNP-based analysis revealed that evolution of annual S. cereale has already begun in S.strictum subsp. africanum. The results showed that S. vavilovii cannot be considered as a separate species but a subspecies of S. cerealeSecale cereale subsp. dighoricum is a hybrid. It is still not clear whether we can consider S. strictum subsp. strictum and S. strictum subsp. kuprijanovii as two separate species