Factors influencing the airborne sporangia concentration of Phytophthora infestans and its relationship with potato disease severity

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGForecasting systems are widely used to predict the application of fungicides for managing late blight. However, airborne inoculum has rarely been included in these forecasting systems. Monitoring the sporangia in crop environments may offer an opportunity to improve late blight forecast systems by integrating pathogen pressure. Hence, this experiment aiming to analyze relationships between weather based risk systems and sporangia levels in the atmosphere of potato crops. The experiments were conducted during two growing seasons in a potato field. During the study, the concentration of Phytophthora infestans in the air, the weather conditions, the phenology of cultivars and r-AUPDC during the crop cycle were recorded. The weather-based risk of late blight was estimated using infection pressure (IP) and the daily risk value (DRV) based on hourly relative humidity (RH) and temperature (T). The effect of weather parameters on sporangia levels was analyzed. IP and DRV showed a strong positive correlation with sporangia concentration, standing out the pronounced effect of RH on the sporangia levels. Analysis of the hourly sporangia concentration within a day showed an increase in the sporangia concentration from 9 h to 18 h. This increase in sporangia was linked to an increase in T, spore release, and a decrease in RH. Our results identified a T of 10 ◦C and RH of 80% as the minimum threshold for significant sporangia concentration in the air. However, maximum sporangia level was found in the air at 88% (average relative humidity) and 17 ◦C (average temperature). Finally, the effect of weekly P. infestans sporangia was observed on cultivars with different susceptibility to late blight.Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte | Ref. FPU 17/0026

Importance of meteorological parameters and airborne conidia to predict risk of alternaria on a potato crop ambient using machine learning algorithms

Secondary infections of early blight during potato crop season are conditioned by aerial inoculum. However, although aerobiological studies have focused on understanding the key factors that influence the spore concentration in the air, less work has been carried out to predict when critical concentrations of conidia occur. Therefore, the goals of this study were to understand the key weather variables that affect the hourly and daily conidia dispersal of Alternaria solani and A. alternata in a potato field, and to use these weather factors in different machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict the daily conidia levels. This study showed that conidia per hour in a day is influenced by the weather conditions that characterize the hour, but not the hour of the day. Specifically, the relative humidity and solar radiation were the most relevant weather parameters influencing the conidia concentration in the air and both in a linear model explained 98% of the variation of this concentration per hour. Moreover, the dew point temperature three days before was the weather variable with the strongest effect on conidia per day. An improved prediction of Alternaria conidia level was achieved via ML algorithms when the conidia of previous days is considered in the analysis. Among the ML algorithms applied, the CART model with an accuracy of 86% were the best to predict daily conidia level.Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deportes | Ref. FPU 17/0026

Enfermedad cerebrovascular en pediatría. Experiencia de un servicio de urgencias

Objetivos. Describir las características de la enfermedad cerebrovascular (ECV) en pacientes atendidos en un servicio de urgencias pediátrico y detectar diferencias clínicas según sea isquémica o hemorrágica. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo, analítico observacional, realizado en el servicio de urgencias pediátrico de un hospital de tercer nivel. Se incluyen pacientes entre 1 mes y 18 años de edad atendidos en el servicio durante 10 años (enero de 2001 a diciembre de 2011) con diagnóstico final de ECV. Se excluyen las hemorragias por traumatismos o secundarias a tumores, las trombosis de senos venosos y los pacientes no atendidos en el servicio. Resultados. Se incluyen 61 pacientes, 39 (63,9%) de sexo masculino, con una mediana de edad de 4,6 años (rango: 1,3 meses-17,5 años). De ellos, 26 (42,6%) presentan ECV isquémica y 35 (57,4%) ECV hemorrágica. La cefalea (n = 20; 57,1%; p = 0,008) y los vómitos (n = 25; 71,4%; p = 0,001) son más frecuentes en la ECV hemorrágica, y la hemiparesia (n = 17; 65,4%; p < 0,001) y la parálisis facial (n = 7; 26,9%; p = 0,001), en la ECV isquémica. Las principales causas de la ECV hemorrágica son las malformaciones arteriovenosas (n = 17; 38,6%), y las de la ECV isquémica, las arteriopatías (n = 6; 42,3%). Al alta, 27 (44,3%) presentaban diferentes grados de discapacidad y 6 (9,8%) fallecieron. Conclusiones. La ECV es una entidad poco frecuente, aunque presenta una elevada morbimortalidad. Se observa un ligero predominio de la ECV hemorrágica y se comprueba que la ECV hemorrágica se presenta más con signos de hipertensión intracraneal, y la isquémica, con focalidad neurológica

Rapid estimation of potato quality parameters by a portable near-infrared spectroscopy device

The aim of the present work was to determine the main quality parameters on tuber potato using a portable near-infrared spectroscopy device (MicroNIR). Potato tubers protected by the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI “Patata de Galicia”, Spain) were analyzed both using chemical methods of reference and also using the NIR methodology for the determination of important parameters for tuber commercialization, such as dry matter and reducing sugars. MicroNIR technology allows for the attainment/estimation of dry matter and reducing sugars in the warehouses by directly measuring the tubers without a chemical treatment and destruction of samples. The principal component analysis and modified partial least squares regression method were used to develop the NIR calibration model. The best determination coefficients obtained for dry matter and reducing sugars were of 0.72 and 0.55, respectively, and with acceptable standard errors of cross-validation. Near-infrared spectroscopy was established as an effective tool to obtain prediction equations of these potato quality parameters. At the same time, the efficiency of portable devices for taking instantaneous measurements of crucial quality parameters is useful for potato processors.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. FEADER 2017/045BMinisterio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte | Ref. FPU 17/0026

Changes in the morphological characteristics of potato plants attributed to seasonal variability

The development of a potato crop differs according to the environmental conditions and growing season of an area. Periods of high temperatures and drought have been frequent in recent years, and this has affected crops worldwide. The effect of meteorological factors on the plant morphology of potato cultivars growing in A Limia was analyzed for three consecutive years. The crop cycle with the highest temperatures and least accumulated rainfall (2016) showed plants with a higher number of leaflets, which were shorter in length. The crop cycle (2014) with a lower temperature and more rainfall had the tallest plants, the highest degree of flowering, fewer pairs of leaflets and the highest length of the floral peduncle. Kennebec and Fontane were the varieties that showed the least variability in morphological characteristics during the seasons analyzed. Considering the meteorological and morphological data, a principal component analysis was carried out, which explained 80.1% of the variance of the data. Spearman rank correlations showed higher significant coefficients between the temperature and foliar characteristics. The leaf size of plants was estimated using a multiple linear regression analysis, which included the mean temperature, explaining 64% of the variability of the data.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. 2014/2020-FEADE

Describing the pollen content in the gastrointestinal tract of Vespa velutina larvae

Vespa velutina is an invasive species that exhibits flexible social behavior, which may have contributed to its introduction in several European countries. It is important to understand its behavior in order to combat the effects of its introduction in different areas. This implies knowing the resources that it uses during its biological cycle. Hornets require protein resources taken from insects and organic matter as well as carbohydrates as an energy source to fly and also to forage for food and nest-building materials. The gastrointestinal tract of adults and larvae contains a wide variety of pollen types. The identification of this pollen in larvae collected from nests could offer information about the plant species that V. velutina visits as a foraging place. The main objective of this research was to study the pollen content in the gastrointestinal tract of larvae. Patterns of pollen content and pollen diversity were established according to the nest type, altitude, season, and location in the nest comb. The abundance of pollen types such as Eucalyptus, Castanea, Foeniculum vulgare, Hedera helix, Taraxacum officinale, Echium, or Cytisus pollen type stands out in many of the samples.Simple Summary: The yellow-legged hornet is an invasive species from southeast Asia that has turned the European beekeeping sector upside down. The spread of this species has been advancing in recent years, and today, several European countries are threatened by Vespa velutina. The need to study its behavior is urgent given the increasingly evident economic and environmental impacts. In this regard, there is little information about the feeding habits and the resources it uses during the life cycle. Like other Hymenoptera, hornets require carbohydrates and proteins as their primary nutrients. Sugary secretions such as floral nectar, honeydew, or fruit juices are the main sources of carbohydrates but the protein intake is provided by the consumption of a diverse diet of insects such as the honey bee. There is scarce information on the presence of pollen grains in the gastrointestinal content of larvae other than secondary contamination from hunting. This content could represent the surrounding flora of its habitat that is used as a resource. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the main pollen types present in the gastrointestinal system of larvae taken from V. velutina nests.Fundación Centro de Estudos Eurorrexionais Galicia - Norte de Portugal | Ref. EAPA_800/2018-Atlantic-POSitiveXunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481D-2022-02

Lesch-Nyhan disease and its variants: Phenotypic and mutation spectrum of Hypoxanthine-Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency in Argentine patients

Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) deficiency is a disorder of purine metabolism responsible for Lesch-Nyhan Disease (LND) and its variants, HPRT-related hyperuricemia with neurologic dysfunction (HND) and HPRT-related hyperuricemia (HRH). The objective of this study was to characterize a cohort of Argentine patients with HPRT deficiency diagnosed in a single center. Results: Twenty nine patients were studied, including 12 LND, 15 HND and 2 HRH. The average onset age was 0.64 years for LND with motor delay as the main manifestation, 8.84 years for HND and 2.5 years for HRH; nephrological manifestations predominated as presenting features in these variants. The average diagnosis age was 3.58 years for LND, 17.21 years for HND and 2.5 years for HRH. Clinical heterogeneity was more evident in HND, even in members of the same family. All patients presented hyperuricemia and no detectable HPRT activity in erythrocyte lysate. The molecular study allowed to identify 9 different mutations in HPRT1 gene from 24 patients (11 independent pedigrees) and to establish genotype-phenotype correlation. In conclusion, this study describes the genotypic/phenotypic spectrum of HPRT deficiency in Argentine patients and highlights the need to increase awareness about the suspicion of these diseases, especially the LND variants with high clinical heterogeneity.Fil: Laróvere, Laura Elena. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios de las Metabolopatías Congénitas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fairbanks, Lynette D.. Purine Research Laboratory, St. Thomass Hosp; Reino UnidoFil: Jinnah, H. A.. University of Emory; Estados UnidosFil: Guelbert, Norberto Bernardo. Hospital de Niños de la Santísima Trinidad, Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Escuredo, Emilia. Purine Research Laboratory, St. Thomass Hosp; Reino UnidoFil: Becerra, Adriana Berónica. Hospital de Niños de la Santísima Trinidad, Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Dodelson de Kremer, Raquel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios de las Metabolopatías Congénitas; Argentin

Uso de antídotos en un servicio de urgencias pediátricas.

INTRODUCTION: Poisoning is an infrequent cause of consultation in a pediatric emergency department (PED), but it can be potentially serious. Pediatricians should know how to use the available antidotes properly. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the use of antidotes in a PED and to assess the suitability of their indications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of antidote use in a PED between January 2008 and June 2012. Inclusion criteria were age younger than 18 years and consultation for suspicious poisoning by a substance that could be treated with an antidote. The adequacy of antidote indication was based on the recommendations of the Spanish Society of Pediatric Emergencies (SSPE). RESULTS: A total of 1728 consultations for suspicious poisoning (0.4% of the total visits in the PED) were recorded. In 353 cases (20.4%) the involved poison could be treated with an antidote. Sixty-seven patients received an antidote (3.9% of consultations for suspicious poisoning), and a total of 69 administrations of an antidote were made: 100% oxygen (46), N-acetylcysteine (10), flumazenil (4), naloxone (3), deferoxamine (2), vitamin K (2), bicarbonate (1), and carnitine (1). In 3 cases there was no indication for administration: flumazenil without respiratory depression, and vitamin K following coumarin exposure. As side effects, agitation was noted after the use of flumazenil, and a decrease in the prothrombin time during infusion of N-acetylcysteine. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of antidotes in this PED is uncommon and, mainly, in accordance with the SSPE recommendations, and without serious side effects. The use of flumazenil needs to be limited to the cases with a clear indication and without any contraindication

The multikinase inhibitor EC‐70124 synergistically increased the antitumor activity of doxorubicin in sarcomas

Cytotoxic drugs like doxorubicin remain as the most utilized agents in sarcoma treatment. However, advanced sarcomas are often resistant, thus stressing the need for new therapies aimed to overcome this resistance. Multikinase inhibitors provide an efficient way to target several pro-tumorigenic pathways using a single agent and may constitute a valuable strategy in the treatment of sarcomas, which frequently show an aberrant activation of pro-tumoral kinases. Therefore, we studied the antitumor activity of EC-70124, an indolocarbazole analog that have demonstrated a robust ability to inhibit a wide range of pro-survival kinases. Evaluation of the phospho-kinase profile in cell-of-origin sarcoma models and/or sarcoma primary cell lines evidenced that PI3K/AKT/mTOR, JAK/STAT or SRC were among the most highly activated pathways. In striking contrast with the structurally related drug midostaurin, EC-70124 efficiently prevented the phosphorylation of these targets and robustly inhibited proliferation through a mechanism associated to the induction of DNA damage, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In addition, EC-70124 was able to partially reduce tumor growth in vivo. Importantly, this compound inhibited the expression and activity of ABC efflux pumps involved in drug resistance. In line with this ability, we found that the combined treatment of EC-70124 with doxorubicin resulted in a synergistic cytotoxic effect in vitro and an increased antitumor activity of this cytotoxic drug in vivo. Altogether, these results uncover the capability of the novel multikinase inhibitor EC-70124 to counteract drug resistance in sarcoma and highlight its therapeutic potential when combined with current treatmentsPeer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Reciprocal Effects of Antiretroviral Drugs Used To Treat HIV Infection on the Fibroblast Growth Factor 21/β-Klotho System

Following antiretroviral therapy, HIV-infected patients show increased circulating levels of the antidiabetic hormone fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). In contrast, the expression of the FGF21-obligatory coreceptor β-Klotho (KLB) is reduced in target tissues. This situation is comparable to the FGF21 resistance status observed in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Here, we performed the first systematic study of the effects of distinct members of different antiretroviral drug classes on the FGF21/KLB system in human hepatic, adipose, and skeletal muscle cells. Most protease inhibitors and the nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor efavirenz induced FGF21 gene expression. Neither nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors nor the viral entry inhibitor maraviroc had any effect. Among the integrase inhibitors, elvitegravir significantly induced FGF21 expression, whereas raltegravir had minor effects only in adipose cells. In human hepatocytes and adipocytes, known target cells of FGF21 action, efavirenz, elvitegravir, and the lopinavir-ritonavir combination exerted inhibitory effects on KLB gene expression. Drug treatments that elicited FGF21 induction/KLB repression were those found to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and oxidative stress. Notably, the pharmacological agents thapsigargin and tunicamycin, which induce these stress pathways, mimicked the effects of drug treatments. Moreover, pharmacological inhibitors of either ER or oxidative stress significantly impaired lopinavir-ritonavir-induced regulation of FGF21, but not KLB. In conclusion, the present in vitro screen study identifies the antiretroviral drugs that affect FGF21/KLB expression in human cells. The present results could have important implications for the management of comorbidities resulting from side effects of specific antiretroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV-infected patients