Tubercle disease of sugar beets, the lost pathogen, and the thin border between pathogenicity and stimulatory effect

Tubercle disease or a bacterial pocket disease of sugar beets are names used to describe one of the gall-malformed diseases of sugar beet roots. Xanthomonas beticola is the historical name of the pathogen supposedly causing bacterial pocket disease. There were no isolates deposited in any collection corresponding to the originally isolated bacteria, except two strains from the NCPPB (National Collection of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, UK). However, both isolates were identified as related to Bacillus pumilus, which raised doubts about their pathogenicity. In our laboratory, greenhouse, and preliminary field experiments, we demonstrated that such strains are not pathogenic to sugar beets. Furthermore, both strains promoted their growth, improved their yield quality, and partly protected them against Rhizoctonia solani in a field experiment

Rhizoctonia solani AG5 and Its Offspring – Morphology and Sensitivity to Fungicides

The objective of these studies was to identify differences and similarities within the progeny of Rhizoctonia solani AG5, which arose from basidiospores produced by the maternal strain ID23. The following characteristics were analyzed: appearance of the mycelium (color, structure, zonation, and presence of sclerotia), growth rate (at 10°C, 20°C, and 30°C), fungicide sensitivity, and hyphal structure. The mycelial color of R. solani AG5 ranged from white/cream to light and dark brown. The structure of the mycelium may be compacted or flattened with visible zoning or fluffy with dark brown sclerotia on the colony surface. Homokaryons and heterokaryons derived from homokaryons were analyzed by constructing a phylogenetic tree using morphological data. Single basidiospore-grown isolates formed a separate subclade, the majority of which were grouped with a maternal isolate; however, heterokaryons derived from them created a separate subclade. In addition, isolates grown in basidiospores germinated at low temperatures created their own group, but with some exceptions. This shows a divergence in the morphological parameters of the subsequent generations and within generations. The optimal temperature for growth was found to be between 20°C and 30°C. The exceptions were strains obtained from basidiospores that germinated at refrigerated temperatures. For these samples, 10°C was found to be the optimal growth temperature. The hyphae of homokaryons were characterized by the presence of branching at an almost right angle and the presence of a septum at the site of constriction of the branch itself. The mean diameter of hyphae ranged 2.93–15.60 μm, depending on the age of hyphae. The fungicidal compounds at a concentration of 10 ppm had no significant effect on the activity of the tested strains, whereas a tenfold increase in the dose reduced the growth ability of the tested isolates. The activity of fungicides containing azoxystrobin, thiuram, or thiophanate-methyl on R. solani resulted in a reduction in the mycelial growth rate only in the case of azoxystrobin and thiuram, and in some cases, it was completely inhibited (thiophanate-methyl)

Efficacy, Safety, and Quality of Treatment Satisfaction of Premixed Human and Analogue Insulin Regimens in a Large Cohort of Type 2 Diabetic Patients: PROGENS BENEFIT Observational Study

Diabetes is a lifelong course disease, so insulin treatment has to be effective and safe, and patients should be satisfied with it. We aimed to compare efficacy, safety, and quality of treatment satisfaction of human and premixed analogue insulin among 3264 patients (53.58% women) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a real-life environment. 2493 patients (62.77%) had been assigned to group I where before the inclusion into the study the treatment regimen has been changed from analogue to human premixed insulin and 771 patients (37.23%) to group II where the treatment with insulin analogue remained unchanged. At the end of the study, there was a reduction of HbA1c observed in both of the groups; however, Δ HbA1c was significantly higher in group 1 (−0.599 versus −0.406; P<0.001 at visit 3 versus visit 1). The number of hypoglycemic episodes during the study observation was insignificantly reduced in both groups. Diabetes treatment satisfaction measured with DTSQ increased at the end of the study and was significantly better in group I compared to group II (P<0.001). This observational study proved that both human and premixed analogue insulin are effective and safe, and patients are satisfied with the treatment

Flow cytometric DNA analysis of parathyroid benign lesions

Introduction: It is difficult to differentiate benign and malignant lesions just by histopathological evaluation due to lack of clear criteria of diagnosis. Moreover, the group of benign pathologies of parathyroids is not homogenous, and recurrence of symptoms of hyperparathyroidism after surgical management was also noted in this group. This complication is not always due to inappropriate surgical technique. The goal of this work was to find the relationship between cellular ploidy and proliferative activity of adenomas and hyperplasia of parathyroids and preoperative levels of calcium and parathormone in the serum of patients surgically treated for primary hyperparathyroidism. Material and methods: A total of 98 parathyroid glands were tested, of which 81 (82.7%) were from female patients and 17 (17.3%) from male; the age of the patients was from 22 to 82 years, with an average of 58 years. Results: In resected glands pathological evaluation showed the following results: in 53 (54.1%) adenoma was present, and in 45 (45.9%) there was hyperplasia. Sixty-seven of the samples (68.4%) were characterised as diploid and 31 (31.6%) as aneuploid. There is important positive correlation (r = 0.34595; p = 0.011) between the percentage of S-phase cells (% SPF) and calcium levels measured prior to surgical resection of adenoma. The further analysis of patients with adenoma characterised by aneuploidy proved a statistically valid, positive correlation between %SPF and ionised calcium levels in blood serum of patients both before (r = 0.7189; p = 0.003) and after the surgical treatment (r = 0.6313; p = 0.012). Conclusions: 1. Benign lesions of parathyroid with ploidy indicates their heterogeneity. 2. In aneuploid benign adenomas of parathyroid glands an increased percentage of cells in S phase (% SPF) correlates with a high level of calcium in serum pre- and post-parathyroidectomy

Produkcja kwasu indolilooctowego przez endofityczne szczepy Bacillus

The objectives of this study were to isolate and characterize endophytic bacteria from sugar beet roots focusing on their ability to produce indole acetic acid (IAA). In order to isolate endophytic bacteria the sugar beet roots were used. To determine the amounts of IAA produced by endophytic Bacillus strains (B. amyloliquefaciens, B. megaterium and B. subtilis), a colorimetric technique was applied with Salkowski reagent. The isolates were grown in Laurin Broth medium supplemented with L-tryptophan over the concentration range of 100–10000 g/cm3 and incubated at 30 oC for 7 days. The highest concentration of IAA was recorded after 4 days of culturing in the supernatant obtained from the media containing 10000 g/cm3 of tryptophan. For the strain B. subtilis and B. megaterium the concentration of IAA marked in the post –culturing liquid amounted about 82.00 g/cm3, and for the B. amyloliquefaciens strain it amounted over 121.28 g/cm3. The strains Bacillus under study produced IAA in a different amount in the presence of L-tryptophan and in its absence.Celem pracy było wyizolowanie i scharakteryzowanie bakterii endofitycznych korzeni buraka cukrowego pod kątem ich zdolności do produkcji kwasu indolilooctowego (IAA). Materiał doświadczalny do izolacji bakterii endofitycznych stanowiły korzenie burak cukrowego. Ilość wytworzonego IAA przez endofityczne szczepy Bacillus (B. amyloliquefaciens, B. megaterium, B. subtilis) oznaczono metodą kolorymetryczną z odczynnikiem Salkowskiego. Szczepy hodowano w pożywce LB (Laurin Broth) suplementowanej L-tryptofanem w stężeniach 100–10000 g/cm3 i inkubowano w 30 oC przez 7 dni. Najwyższe stężenie IAA odnotowano po 4 dniach w hodowlach zawierających 10000 g/cm3 L-tryptofanu. Dla szczepu B. subtilis i B. megaterium stężenie IAA wynosiło około 82,00 g/cm3, a dla szczepu B. amyloliquefaciens 127,28 g/cm3. Badane szczepy Bacillus spp. wytwarzały IAA na różnym poziomie zarówno w obecności L-tryptofanu jak i przy jego braku