Aislamiento, identificación y daños asociados al síndrome de la muerte súbita en el cultivo de soja en Argentina

358-362The main objectives of this work were to isolate and identify the causal agents of sudden death syndrome (SDS) from samples collected in different Argentinean localities, to quantify its incidence, and to estimate yield losses. Two hundred and ffteen roots from plants with typical SDS foliar symptoms were analyzed. In order to perform pathogenicity tests, two bioassays were conducted in the greenhouse. Yield losses were estimated in a feld trial located in Pergamino by quantifcation and comparison of yield of paired samples. Thirty-six percent of total roots (78 roots) presented signs of Fusarium, compatible with signs caused by SDS. Morphological studies allowed the identifcation of 35 isolates as F. tucumaniae and 18 as F. virguliforme. Other eight isolates could not be identifed. All isolates that were inoculated reproduced typical SDS foliar symptoms. Signifcant differences were observed between healthy and diseased plants for 1000-grain weight and between potential and real yield (p less than 0.05). Average yield loss was 1514 kg/ha (range 192-3770 kg/ha). These results corroborated the distribution and predominance of F. tucumaniae and F. viguliforme in the area under study and its destructive potential

Phylogenomic analysis of a 55.1 kb 19-gene dataset resolves a monophyletic Fusarium that includes the Fusarium solani Species Complex

Scientific communication is facilitated by a data-driven, scientifically sound taxonomy that considers the end-user¿s needs and established successful practice. In 2013, the Fusarium community voiced near unanimous support for a concept of Fusarium that represented a clade comprising all agriculturally and clinically important Fusarium species, including the F. solani species complex (FSSC). Subsequently, this concept was challenged in 2015 by one research group who proposed dividing the genus Fusarium into seven genera, including the FSSC described as members of the genus Neocosmospora, with subsequent justification in 2018 based on claims that the 2013 concept of Fusarium is polyphyletic. Here, we test this claim and provide a phylogeny based on exonic nucleotide sequences of 19 orthologous protein-coding genes that strongly support the monophyly of Fusarium including the FSSC. We reassert the practical and scientific argument in support of a genus Fusarium that includes the FSSC and several other basal lineages, consistent with the longstanding use of this name among plant pathologists, medical mycologists, quarantine officials, regulatory agencies, students, and researchers with a stake in its taxonomy. In recognition of this monophyly, 40 species described as genus Neocosmospora were recombined in genus Fusarium, and nine others were renamed Fusarium. Here the global Fusarium community voices strong support for the inclusion of the FSSC in Fusarium, as it remains the best scientific, nomenclatural, and practical taxonomic option availabl

Possible correlations between blood pressure, primary headaches and cutaneous allodynia

Following an allostatic perspective, episodic migraine (M) may be considered as an adaptive behavioural response to endogenous or exogenous stressors, while its progression to a daily or nearly daily form (chronic migraine) may represent the failure of adaptive strategies. Multiple factors may enhance the progression/chronification of M, and among these the presence of cutaneous allodynia (CA) as well as alterations in blood pressure and in sleep. The working hypothesis of the study was that subjects with M, and particularly those with CA, could show a tendency towards high blood pressure levels and/or to alterations in the circadian rhythm of blood pressure. We studied 235 subjects consecutively attending a centre for blood pressure control for a blood pressure 24 h monitoring. Headache diagnosis was made according to the ICHD-II criteria. The presence of CA was evaluated through a semi-structured ad hoc questionnaire. Blood pressure 24 h monitoring was performed by an ambulatory blood pressure monitor (Space Labs) with its ad hoc software. Seventy-eight subjects had a history of headache (mean age 54.0 \ub1 12.4 years, 18 men and 60 women); 56 of them had M, 22 had tension-type headache; among them, CA was found in 24/56 subjects with M, and in 6/22 with tension-type headache; 157 subjects did not suffer from headache (mean age 60.5 \ub1 11.5 years, 99 men and 58 women). No significant difference was observed between headache subjects and subjects without headache in terms of mean systolic and diastolic pressure, neither in the M nor in tension-type subgroups. With regard to the circadian rhythm of blood pressure, the physiological reduction during night (dipping) was more evident among headache subjects than in subjects without headache; this border-line difference was more strongly significant in subjects with CA than both non-headache (p = 0.003) and non-CA (p = 0.05) ones. The difference between allodynic and non-allodynic subjects was present also in the M sub-group (7 dippers out of 32 non-allodynic migraineurs vs. 12 dippers out of 24 allodynic migraineurs, p = 0.03) notwithstanding the reduction of the sample size. Despite the initial hypothesis, subjects with primary headaches did not show differences in terms of mean blood pressure values and they showed a more physiologic blood pressure daily rhythm than those without headaches. Also the presence of CA, a marker of progression to chronic headache forms, was associated neither with hypertension nor with increased frequency of loss of dipping. M, particularly when associated with allodynia, may improve breathing during nocturnal sleep and consequently counteract possible blood pressure alterations, suggesting an allostatic function of allodynic headache

Draft genome sequence data of Cercospora kikuchii, a causal agent of Cercospora leaf blight and purple seed stain of soybeans

Cercospora kikuchii (Tak. Matsumoto & Tomoy.) M.W. Gardner 1927 is an ascomycete fungal pathogen that causes Cercospora leaf blight and purple seed stain on soybean. Here, we report the first draft genome sequence and assembly of this pathogen. The C. kikuchii strain ARG_18_001 was isolated from soybean purple seed collected from San Pedro, Buenos Aires, Argentina, during the 2018 harvest. The genome was sequenced using a 2 × 150 bp paired-end method by Illumina NovaSeq 6000. The C. kikuchii protein-coding genes were predicted using FunGAP (Fungal Genome Annotation Pipeline). The draft genome assembly was 33.1 Mb in size with a GC-content of 53%. The gene prediction resulted in 14,856 gene models/14,721 protein coding genes. Genomic data of C. kikuchii presented here will be a useful resource for future studies of this pathosystem. The data can be accessed at GenBank under the accession number VTAY00000000 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/VTAY00000000.Fil: Sautua, Francisco José. Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA). Facultad de Agronomía. Catedra de Fitopatología; Argentina.Fil: González, Sergio A. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVYA). Instituto De Investigación Biotecnología; Argentina.Fil: González, Sergio A. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO); ArgentinaFil: Doyle, Vinson P. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (LSU AgCenter). Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology; United States.Fil: Berretta, Marcelo F. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Berretta, Marcelo F. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVYA). Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola (IMyZA); Argentina.Fil: Gordó, Manuela. Laboratorio Agrícola Río Paraná; Argentina.Fil: Scandiani, María Mercedes. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Centro de Referencia de Micología (CEREMIC); Argentina.Fil: Rivarola, Máximo L. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVYA). Instituto De Investigación Biotecnología; Argentina.Fil: Rivarola, Máximo L. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO); Argentina.Fil: Rivarola, Máximo L. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Fernández, Paula. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVYA). Instituto De Investigación Biotecnología; Argentina.Fil: Fernández, Paula. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO); Argentina.Fil: Fernández, Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Fernández, Paula. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; Argentina.Fil: Carmona, Marcelo Aníbal. Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA). Facultad de Agronomía. Catedra de Fitopatología; Argentina

Blood pressure during nocturnal sleep in headache

AIM: Interactions between blood pressure control, sleep and headache have been largely studied, although not well understood. We designed a study trying to simultaneously evaluate all three aspects in the same subjects. We particularly concentrated on the observation of physiological blood pressure circadian rhythm, and the presence of cutaneous allodynia correlated to headache. Objective of the study was to investigate blood pressure during nocturnal sleep in patients that underwent a blood pressure 24 hours monitoring, and at the same time the presence of headache and of sleep behavioural alterations. METHODS: Blood pressure 24 hours monitoring was performed by an ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitor (Space Labs) with its ad hoc software. Headache diagnosis was made according to ICHD-II criteria. Presence of allodynia and sleep behavior were evaluated through semi-structured ad hoc questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 195 subjects were included, of which 122 without headache (mean age 60.4\ub111.6 years, 78 men and 44 women) and 73 with history of headache, (mean age 54.2\ub112.5 years, 18 men and 55 women). Fifty-one headache patients had migraine (mean age 52.6\ub111.7 years, 11 men and 40 women) and 22 tension type headache (TTH - mean age 58.0\ub113.5 years, 7 men and 15 women). Allodynia was found in 30 out of 73 headache patients: 23 out of 51 in the migraine group and in 7 out of 22 in the tension-type one. The physiological reduction of blood pressure during night (dipping) was more conserved among headache patients (34 dippers out of 73 subjects, 46,6%) with respect to subjects without headache (40 dippers out of 122, 32,8%) and that this border-line difference was more strongly significant comparing allodynic subjects (19 dippers out of 30, 63.3%) with both non-headache (40 dippers out of 122, 32.8%, P<0.001) and non-allodynic (15 out of 43, 34.9%, P<0.05) ones. No significant difference was observed between headache patients and subjects without headache in terms of mean systolic and diastolic pressure, neither between migraine and TTH. CONCLUSION: Allodynic headache patients seem to maintain a more physiologic pressure circadian rhythm. While considering the possibility of selection bias, the hypothesis of an allostatic function of headache and allodynia in patients with unbalanced blood pressure could be made

Effect of a food supplement containing berberine, monacolin K, hydroxytyrosol and coenzyme Q10 on lipid levels: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study

Sergio D&rsquo;Addato,1 Luciana Scandiani,2 Giuliana Mombelli,3 Francesca Focanti,4 Federica Pelacchi,4 Enrica Salvatori,4 Giorgio Di Loreto,4 Alessandro Comandini,4 Pamela Maffioli,5 Giuseppe Derosa51Medical and Surgical Science Department, S. Orsola Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Polo Universitario Ospedale Luigi Sacco, Milan, Italy; 3Dyslipidemia Center, Hospital Niguarda Ca&rsquo; Granda, Milan, Italy; 4ACRAF S.p.A. Angelini Research Center RR&amp;D, Ancona, Italy; 5Center of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyPurpose: To evaluate the ability of the new food supplement, Body Lipid (BL), containing red yeast rice, berberine, coenzyme Q10 and hydroxytyrosol, to lower the LDL-C in patients with mild-to-moderate hypercholesterolemia and to assess the overall safety profile of the product.Methods: In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo and active comparator (the marketed Armolipid Plus&reg; [AM]) controlled study, 158 hypercholesterolemic patients were randomized following a 4-week dietary run-in period. After 4 weeks of treatment with a daily oral dose of the new food supplement BL, AM or placebo, plus diet, the main outcome was the decrease of LDL-C, total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride levels.Findings: The absolute changes of LDL-C and TC levels from baseline, at week 4 were: &minus;39.1 mg/dL &plusmn;17.76 and &minus;45.9 mg/dL &plusmn;21.54, respectively in the BL group; 5.7 mg/dL &plusmn;14.98 and 2.4 mg/dL &plusmn;18.43, respectively in the placebo group. Results were statistically significant. In terms of mean percentage, BL was shown to be more effective in lowering LDL-C levels as compared to placebo and the active comparator (AM), with a reduction of &minus;26.3%, +4.2%, &minus;18.3%, respectively. Five adverse events (AEs) were reported by five patients after the initiation of the study treatment: two in the BL group (influence and insomnia), two in the AM group (ear pain and rash), and one in the placebo group (back pain). All AEs were mild in intensity, except for back pain (severe). The case of insomnia in the BL group and the case of rash in the AM group were judged as treatment related. The safety review of the laboratory (blood and urine) analyses, vital signs and physical findings did not show any clinical effect of the study products on any of the parameters.Implications: BL showed a good efficacy and safety profile and, for this reason, it can be considered an alternative to pharmacological treatment, for patients with mild-to-moderate hypercholesterolemia. Keywords: lipid profile, red yeast rice, berberine, coenzyme Q10, hydroxytyroso

Target organ damage in a population at intermediate cardiovascular risk, with adjunctive major risk factors : CArdiovascular PREvention Sacco Study (CAPRESS)

The objective of the study is to assess the prevalence of target organ damage (TOD) at carotid, cardiac, renal and peripheral vascular levels in a population at intermediate cardiovascular risk, with adjunctive major risk factors (AMRF). From March 2007 to July 2009 we examined 979 subjects at intermediate cardiovascular risk, as indicated by the Italian algorithm "Progetto Cuore"; the patients were aged 40-69 years, sensitized by one or more AMRF such as family history for cardiovascular disease (CVD), being overweight or obese, and smoking habit (more than 10 cigarettes/day). We measured common carotid intima-media thickness (cc-IMT) and plaque at any level, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR), and ankle-brachial index (ABI). The prevalence of at least one TOD was 63% (617 subjects), cc-IMT was high in 48.2% (472), UACR abnormal in 14.1% (138), LVMI high in 12.6% (117) and ABI pathological in 9.1% (89). In those with carotid damage 423 had a plaque, amounting to 43.2% of the total population. Of note, carotid damage was present in all subjects with 3 TODs, and in 92% of subjects with 2 TODs. A multivariate logistic regression model including conventional factors and AMRF indicated that age 50-69 years, systolic blood pressure, relevant smoking and CV risk score a parts per thousand yen15 were independently and significantly associated with at least one TOD, and at least, with carotid damage. Among the AMRF, peripheral arterial disease was associated with relevant smoking, with an odds ratio (OR) of 3 [confidence interval (CI) 1.80-4.97, p < 0.0001]; overweight and obesity both had selective associations with cardiac damage with OR 2.75 (CI 1.2-6.3, p < 0.01) and OR 3.89 (CI 1.61-9.73, p < 0.01). A substantial proportion of people at intermediate risk, with at least one AMRF have at least one TOD, a major predictor of cardiovascular outcomes