Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Different Antifungal Activity of Anabaena sp., Ecklonia sp., and Jania sp. against Botrytis cinerea

Water extracts and polysaccharides from Anabaena sp., Ecklonia sp., and Jania sp. were tested for their activity against the fungal plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea. Water extracts at 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg/mL inhibited B. cinerea growth in vitro. Antifungal activity of polysaccharides obtained by N-cetylpyridinium bromide precipitation in water extracts was evaluated in vitro and in vitro at 0.5, 2.0, and 3.5 mg/mL. These concentrations were tested against fungal colony growth, spore germination, colony forming units (CFUs), CFU growth, and on strawberry fruits against B. cinerea infection with pre- and post-harvest application. In in vitro experiments, polysaccharides from Anabaena sp. and from Ecklonia sp. inhibited B. cinerea colony growth, CFUs, and CFU growth, while those extracted from Jania sp. reduced only the pathogen spore germination. In in vitro experiments, all concentrations of polysaccharides from Anabaena sp., Ecklonia sp., and Jania sp. reduced both the strawberry fruits infected area and the pathogen sporulation in the pre-harvest treatment, suggesting that they might be good candidates as preventive products in crop protection

Effect and mechanism of action of extracts from algae and cyanobacteria in the control of fungal plant pathogens

Fungal pathogens can attack plants in all cultivation systems and cause fruit decay in post-harvest. Their control was based on the use of synthetic products. Upon the EC regulation No. 1107/2009, concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing the Council Directives 91/414/EEC, many synthetic pesticides are currently banned for their non-target effects and environmental and health hazards. The use of many others has been restricted. In agriculture, algae and cyanobacteria extracts are used for their stimulant effects on plant vigour and productivity but little is known on their effect against fungal pathogens. The objectives of this thesis were to study: (i) the antifungal activity of water extracts from the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp., and from the algae Ecklonia sp., Halopithys sp. Jania sp. and Chlorella sp. against the fungal plant pathogens Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and Podosphaera xanthii, in vitro and in vivo assays; (ii) quantification of compounds in the extracts; (iii) the antifungal activity against B. cinerea of polysaccharides obtained from the extracts (iiii) the plant defence responses by bioassay, by the increase of enzymatic activities related to the plant defence responses and by the accumulation of PR proteins; (iiiii) phytotoxic and biostimulant effects of extracts. The treatment with extracts from Anabaena sp., Ecklonia sp., Jania sp. showed activity against all fungal pathogens by working directly to the pathogen and indirectly through the involvement of plant defence responses. Moreover, polysaccharides derived from the extracts played a role in B. cinerea control by working directly against the pathogen and indirectly by increasing plant defence responses. Considering these results, algae and cyanobacteria extracts may provide a useful tool for the disease management in sustainable agriculture, once their antifungal effects will be verified on plants in a larger scale experiment

Algae and cyanobacteria: prospects and challenges for plant disease management

The purpose of this Special Issue on “"Algae and cyanobacteria: prospects and challenges for plant disease management” is to present the latest scientific findings dealing with various aspects of potential application of macro-and micro-algae and cyanobacteria and their bioactive compounds against pre and post-harvest diseases, and their impact on plant and fruit physiology and biochemistry that may be related to plant resistance against biotic stresses

Use of algae in strawberry management

In agriculture, extracts from algae are used for their stimulant effects on plant vigor and productivity but little is known on their effect against fungal pathogens. However, the recent EU restriction on synthetic pesticides made the management of fungal plant pathogens difficult and greatly stimulated the research of alternative solutions to chemicals. Applications of extracts from algae can help limit disease spread in several crops and the development effective alternatives to chemical treatment in crop protection and nutrition management. In particular, for strawberry, the management of a number of serious diseases in open field and greenhouse in soil or soilless cultivation has become difficult due to recent restrictions in agrochemical use and the lack of effective alternatives. This review provides an overview of the most recent findings on the potential use of extracts of algae for strawberry management, concerning both their biostimulant effects and antifungal properties against pathogens. The existing reports on this topic show the strong potential of algae extracts application on plants both as biostimulants and bioprotectants against fungal pathogens. Further investigation is needed to fully uncover the interesting and exploitable antifungal properties of extracts from algae and to clarify the mechanism of action of extracts and singular components against pathogens

Special Issue “Sustainable Control Strategies of Plant Pathogens in Horticulture”

European Regulation No [...

Sustainable Control Strategies of Plant Pathogens in Horticulture

The purpose of this Special Issue, “Sustainable Control Strategies of Plant Pathogens in Horticulture”, is to present the recent findings and future perspectives on the use of natural substances (i.e., plant extracts or molecules), microorganisms, plant-induced gene silencing that targets specific pathogens, organic cultivation systems and integrated pest management and any other means that can reduce the input of synthetic pesticides in the environment

Activity of seaweed and cyanobacteria water extracts against Podosphaera xanthii on zucchini

Nell’agricoltura tradizionale, da molto tempo, i patogeni delle colture sono gestiti con agrofarmaci di sintesi, il cui uso è attualmente regolamentato in maniera più sostenibile, rispetto al passato, per la salvaguardia della salute dell’uomo e dell’ambiente. Le nuove normative prevedono l’utilizzo di mezzi alternativi a tali prodotti, tra cui quelli costituiti da microrganismi fungini e batterici, alcuni dei quali sono registrati come agrofarmaci per la difesa delle colture dai patogeni. Altri prodotti composti da sostanze naturali, come gli estratti di alghe, sono noti per esercitare un’azione biostimolante della pianta, consentendole di superare stress abiotici e biotici, e quindi rappresentano una interessante possibilità di impiego nella difesa integrata delle colture. Pochi studi sono stati condotti per saggiare l’effetto delle alghe nei confronti di patogeni fungini fogliari. Lo scopo di questa ricerca è stato quindi quello di verificare su cotiledoni di zucchino (Cucurbitapepo) l’attività diretta di estratti di alghe rosse (Phylum Rodophyta), alghe brune (Phylum Heterokontophyta), alghe verdi (Phylum Chlorophyta) e cianobatteri (Phylum Cyanobacteria) contro il patogeno fungino Podosphaera xanthii, agente del mal bianco delle cucurbitacee. Le foglie cotiledonari sono state recise da piante sane, trattate per nebulizzazione con ciascun estratto di alghe e cianobatteri, quindi inoculate con 6 gocce di 10 μl ciascuna di sospensione sporale del patogeno (1×10 6 spore/ml) e incubate su agar acqua in capsule Petri per 9 giorni a 22-24 °C. L’effetto dei trattamenti è stato valutato sia come gravità di malattia (percentuale di area fogliare con sintomi di malattia/area inoculata), sia come densità di sporulazione (numero di spore/area fogliare inoculata). In funzione della specie saggiata, gli estratti hanno mostrato effetti di inibizione, stimolazione o nessun effetto sui parametri considerati. Gli estratti delle alghe rosse Corallina sp. ed Halopithys sp., dell’alga bruna Sargassum sp. e dei cianobatteri Anabaena sp. e Spirulina sp. hanno ridotto significativamente sia la malattia, sia la sporulazione. Al contrario, gli estratti di alghe verdi hanno dimostrato effetti nulli o hanno stimolato la malattia. Questo studio dimostra che trattamenti preventivi di cotiledoni di zucchino con estratti acquosi di alghe marine e cianobatteri possono essere considerati per ulteriori studi in strategie di gestione delle malattie in agricoltura sostenibileThe purpose of this research was to study the effects of water extracts of algae belonging to the phylum Rodophyta, Heterokontophya, Chlorophyta and of Cyanobacteria against Podosphaera xanthii on zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) cotyledons. Each extract was sprayed on the upper surface of cotyledons at the concentration of 0.5 %, then cotyledons were inoculated with six 10-µl drops of a spore suspension of the pathogen (1×106 spores/ml), and incubated on water agar in Petri dishes. Depending on the species, the extracts showed inhibition, stimulation or no effect on the disease severity caused by P. xanthii and on the pathogen sporulation density. Extracts of Corallina sp., Halopithys sp., Sargassum sp. and Anabaena sp. showed significant inhibitory effect on both parameters. This study suggests that seaweed and cyanobacteria water extracts applied on zucchini cotyledons may be considered in further experiments on plants as a useful preventative tool for the disease management in sustainable agriculture

A Lignin-Rich Extract of Giant Reed (Arundo donax L.) as a Possible Tool to Manage Soilborne Pathogens in Horticulture: A Preliminary Study on a Model Pathosystem

Finding new sustainable tools for crop protection in horticulture has become mandatory. Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is a tall, perennial, widely diffuse lignocellulosic grass, mainly proposed for bioenergy production due to the fact of its high biomass yield and low agronomic requirements. Some studies have already highlighted antimicrobial and antifungal properties of giant reed-derived compounds. This study aimed at investigating the potential of a lignin-rich giant reed extract for crop protection. The extract, obtained by dry biomass treatment with potassium hydroxide at 120 °C, followed by neutralization, was chemically characterized. A preliminary in vitro screening among several pathogenic strains of fungi and oomycetes showed a high sensitivity by most of the soilborne pathogens to the extract; thus, an experiment was performed with the model pathosystem, Pythium ultimum–zucchini in a growth substrate composed of peat or sand. The adsorption by peat and sand of most of the lignin-derived compounds contained in the extract was also observed. The extract proved to be effective in restoring the number of healthy zucchini plantlets in the substrate infected with P. ultimum compared to the untreated control. This study highlights the potential of the lignin-rich giant reed extract to sustain crop health in horticulture

Compatibility of Beauveria bassiana with fungicides in vitro and on zucchini plants infested with Trialeurodes vaporariorum

The effect of fungicides on the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana strain ATCC 74040 (Naturalis\uc2\uae) was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The formulated fungicides Cantus\uc2\uae (boscalid), Frupica (mepanipyrim), Galben (benalaxyl), Melody\uc2\uae Compact (iprovalicarb\uc2\ua0+\uc2\ua0Cu oxychloride), Oracle\ue2\u84\ua2 (fenamidone\uc2\ua0+\uc2\ua0Cu), Prosper\uc2\uae 300 CS (spiroxamine), Signum\uc2\uae (boscalid\uc2\ua0+\uc2\ua0pyraclostrobin), Switch\uc2\uae (cyprodinil\uc2\ua0+\uc2\ua0fludioxonil) and Talendo\uc2\uae (proquinazid) were tested on fungal colony growth from 10 field dose (10FD) to 10\ue2\u88\u924\uc2\ua0FD. Each product mixed with Naturalis at FD was also tested against Trialeurodes vaporariorum on zucchini plants. Fungal colony growth was not affected by Cantus, Galben, Melody Compact, Oracle and Talendo at FD, while Frupica and Prosper 300 CS reduced colony growth by 9.7% and 6.9%, respectively. All these products did not inhibit the activity of B. bassiana on whiteflies at FD. On the contrary, Signum and Switch significantly inhibited colony growth at all doses and reduced the entomopathogenic activity on whiteflies when applied in mixture with B. bassiana. The toxic effect of both fungicides on B. bassiana persisted for 10\uc2\ua0days after treatments, with a 91.2% reduction in nymph mortality in comparison to control for Signum and 87.4% for Switch. The mode of action of their active ingredients, boscalid, pyraclostrobin, cyprodinil and fludioxonil, individually and in mixture (boscalid\uc2\ua0+\uc2\ua0pyraclostrobin and cyprodinil\uc2\ua0+\uc2\ua0fludioxonil), was studied on fungal colony growth, spore germination, germ tube elongation and spore survival from 10FD to 10\ue2\u88\u922\uc2\ua0FD. All these parameters were reduced by the four active ingredients at all doses, pyraclostrobin and fludioxonil completely inhibited spore germination, fludioxonil alone and in mixture with cyprodinil also inhibited completely spore survival