Phytoplasmas associated with grapevine yellows in Virginia belong to group 16SrI, subgroup A (tomato big bud phytoplasma subgroup), and group 16SrIII, new subgroup I

Grapevine yellows disease in Virginia closely resembles flavescence doree and other grapevine yellows diseases, but the phytoplasmas infecting grapevines in Virginia are distinct from other grapevine yellows pathogens. RFLP analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA indicated that a Virginia grapevine yellows phytoplasma, designated VGYIII was distinct from all other phytoplasmas studied, but was most closely related to spirea stunt (SP1), walnut witches' broom (WWB), and poinsettia branch-inducing (PoiB 1) phytoplasmas in subgroups E, G, and H, respectively, of 16S I RNA group 16SrIII. RFLP analysis also indicated the existence of sequence heterogeneity between the two rRNA operons in the genomes of SP 1 and WWB. Based on the results from RFLP and sequence comparisons with other group 16SrIII phytoplasmas, the VGYIII phytoplasma was classified in a new subgroup, designated 16SrIII-I. A second phytoplasma (VGYI) was detected in cultivated grapevines(Vitis vinifera L.) and in wild grapevines(V. riparia Michx.) and identified as a member of subgroup 16SrI-A. There was no evidence of flavescence doree, bois noir, or Australian grapevine yellows phytoplasmas in Virginia

Possible chromosomal and germline integration of human herpesvirus 7

Publisher Copyright: © 2017 The Authors. Copyright: Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) is a betaherpesvirus, and is phylogenetically related to both HHV-6A and HHV-6B. The presence of telomeric repeat sequences at both ends of its genome should make it equally likely to integrate into the human telomere as HHV-6. However, numerous studies have failed to detect germline integration of HHV-7, suggesting an important difference between the HHV-6A/-6B and HHV-7 genomes. In search of possible germline integrated HHV-7, we developed a sensitive and quantitative real-time PCR assay and discovered that primers designed against some parts of the HHV-7 genome can frequently miss HHV-7 positive clinical samples even though they work efficiently in cell-culture-derived HHV-7 positive materials. Using a primer pair against the U90 ORF of HHV-7, we identified a possible case of germline integration of HHV-7 with one copy of viral genome per cell in both peripheral blood cells and hair follicles. Chromosomal integration of HHV-7 in these individuals was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Germline integration of HHV-7 was further confirmed by detection of ~2.6 copies of HHV-7 in the hair follicles of one of the parents. Our results shed light on the complex nature of the HHV-7 genome in human-derived materials in comparison to cell-culture-derived materials and show the need for stringent criteria in the selection of primers for epidemiological HHV-7 studies.Peer reviewe

The impact of age on post-operative outcomes of colorectal cancer patients undergoing surgical treatment

BACKGROUND: the purpose of study was to evaluate the impact of age on outcomes in colorectal cancer surgery. METHODS: patients on hospital database treated for colorectal cancer during the period 1995 – 2002 were divided into two groups: Group 1 – patients of 75 years or older (n = 154), and Group 2 – those younger than 75 years (n = 532). RESULTS: In Group 1, for colon cancers, proximal tumors were significantly more common (23% vs. 13.5%, p < 0.05), complicated cases were more frequent (46 % vs. 33%, p = 0.002), bowel obstruction more common at presentation (40% vs. 26.5%, p = 0.001), and more frequent emergency surgery required (24% vs. 14%, p = 0.003). Postoperative overall morbidity was higher in the elderly group, but with no differences in surgical complications rate. Overall 5 year survival was 39% vs. 55% (p = 0.0006) and cancer related 5 year survival was 44% vs. 62% (p = 0.0006). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that age was not an independent risk factor for postoperative mortality. CONCLUSION: Preoperative complications and co-morbidities, more advanced disease, and higher postoperative nonsurgical complication rates adversely affect postoperative outcomes after surgery for colorectal cancer in the elderly

Distinct microbial and immune niches of the human colon.

Gastrointestinal microbiota and immune cells interact closely and display regional specificity; however, little is known about how these communities differ with location. Here, we simultaneously assess microbiota and single immune cells across the healthy, adult human colon, with paired characterization of immune cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes, to delineate colonic immune niches at steady state. We describe distinct helper T cell activation and migration profiles along the colon and characterize the transcriptional adaptation trajectory of regulatory T cells between lymphoid tissue and colon. Finally, we show increasing B cell accumulation, clonal expansion and mutational frequency from the cecum to the sigmoid colon and link this to the increasing number of reactive bacterial species

Effect of Black Tea Intake on Blood Cholesterol Concentrations in Individuals with Mild Hypercholesterolemia: A Diet-Controlled Randomized Trial

Habitual intake of black tea has been associated with relatively lower serum cholesterol concentrations in observational studies. However, clinical trial results evaluating the effects of black tea on serum cholesterol have been inconsistent. Several factors could explain these mixed results, in particular, uncontrolled confounding caused by lifestyle factors, e.g. diet. This diet-controlled clinical trial estimates the effect of black tea flavonoid consumption on cholesterol concentrations in 57 borderline hypercholesterolemic individuals (total cholesterol concentrations between 190 and 260 mg/dl (4.9 and 6.7 mmol/L)). A double blind, randomized crossover trial was conducted in Minneapolis, MN from April 2002 through April 2004, wherein key conditions were tightly controlled to minimize possible confounding. Participants consumed a controlled low-flavonoid diet plus 5 cups per day of black tea or tea-like placebo over two 4-week treatment periods. The flavonoid-free caffeinated placebo matched the tea in color and taste. Differences in cholesterol concentrations at the end of each treatment period were evaluated via linear mixed models. Differences (95% CI) in mg/dl among those treated with tea versus placebo were 3.43 (−7.08, 13.94) for total cholesterol, −1.02 (−11.34, 9.30) for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), 0.58 (−2.98, 4.14) for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), 15.22 (−40.91, 71.35) for triglycerides, and −0.39 (−11.16, 10.38) for LDL plus HDL cholesterol fraction. The LCL-C/HDL-C ratio decreased by −0.1 units (95% CI −0.41, 0.21). No results were statistically or clinically significant. Thus, the intake of 5 cups of black tea per day did not significantly alter the lipid profile of borderline hypercholesterolemic subjects