Detection and identification of Apple stem pitting virus and Apple stem grooving virus affecting apple and pear trees in Egypt

Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV) and Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) are economically important and infect either individually or in mixed infection commercial apple and pear cultivars causing yield loses. Young green bud and/or base of petiole were collected from naturally infected apple and pear trees from different locations in Egypt. Both viruses were detected frequently in apple and pear samples. A total of 420 trees from 9 different orchards were tested using one-step RT-PCR; 13% and 17% of these samples were infected with ASPV and ASGV, respectively. Mixed infection with both viruses occurred in 4% of the tested trees. ELISA was reliable for detection of ASGV but not ASPV. Total RNA for one-step RT-PCR was isolated from 100 mg fresh affected apple and pear leaf tissue using Qiagen RNeasy plant mini-kit (Qiagen, Crawley, UK), according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The one step-RTPCR method was performed using ASPV and ASGV-specific primers for each virus. A 316 bp fragment for ASPV and 524bp fragment for ASGV were amplified and detected by gel electrophoresis analysis which indicated the presence of ASPV and ASGV in affected apple and pear cultivars. Southern blot hybridization of the amplified products to digoxigenin (DIG)-labeled cDNA probe for ASPV or ASGV confirmed the results obtained by electrophoresis analysis. No product was detected in amplified extracts of uninfected apple and pear samples. The detection of ASPV and ASGV by one step-RT-PCR assay was successful and appears useful for testing pome fruit germplasm in quarantine and budwood in certification programs.Keywords: Apple and pear, ASPV, ASGV, virus detection, One step RT-PCR, Southern blot hybridizatio

Isolation of catechins from Cycas armstrongii Miq. of an Egyptian origin

The phytochemical investigation of Cycas armstrongii Miq. leaves and twigs using different chromatographic techniques led to the isolation of three catechin monomers; catechin (1), epicatechin (2), and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (3), for the first time from this species. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compounds is discussed in the rest of this article

The Lesser Wax Moth Achroia grisella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae): A New Diet for Rearing Three Predatory Mites of the Family Phytoseiidae

The predatory mites Neoseiulus barkeri, Amblyseius swirskii and Cydnoseius negevi are native phytoseiid mites in Egypt. The biology of these predators was studied using Achroia grisella eggs as food source. Tested phytoseiids were succeeded to develop to adulthood and sustain oviposition on A. grisella eggs. For Cydnoseius negevi, the development was slower and fecundity was lower than for Neoseiulus barkeri and Amblyseius swirskii. The predation rate during immature stages of Cydnoseius negevi was higher than those of Neoseiulus barkeri and Amblyseius swirskii. During oviposition period, N. barkeri consumed more eggs than other phytoseiids did. The higher mean fecundity was recorded for Neoseiulus barkeri and Amblyseius swirskii as opposed to the lower mean for Cydnoseius negevi. When Amblyseius swirskii fed on Achroia grisella eggs, the oviposition period, female longevity and mean generation time were longer than for Cydnoseius negevi and Neoseiulus barkeri. Feeding on eggs of Achroia grisella resulted in the lowest mean fecundity, net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of natural increase, finite rate of increase and gross reproductive rate for Cydnoseius negevi. The sex ratio of all predators' progeny was in female-biased. Consequently, the moth egg was alternative food for Neoseiulus barkeri and Amblyseius swirskii, while it considers as survival prey for Cydnoseius negevi

Supplementation of freezing and thawing media with brain-derived neurotrophic factor protects human sperm from freeze-thaw-induced damage

Objective To investigate the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) supplementation to freezing and thawing media on frozen-thawed human sperm parameters. Design Laboratory study. Setting University hospital. Patient(s) Semen samples from 21 healthy fertile men. Intervention(s) We measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) by flow cytometry using the probes dichlorofluorescin diacetate for intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and dihydroethidium for intracellular superoxide anion (O2��), sperm plasma membrane integrity by flow cytometry, caspase-3 activity using ELISA, and AKT phosphorylation status using Western blot in sperm that was cryopreserved and thawed in media either supplemented with BDNF or without BDNF supplementation (control). Main Outcome Measure(s) Sperm motility, viability, ROS levels, caspase-3 activity and AKT phosphorylation. Result(s) The percentage of motile and viable sperm cells was significantly higher in BDNF-supplemented groups as compared with the nonsupplemented (control) group. There was a significant difference in AKT phosphorylation status between BDNF-supplemented groups and the control group. Moreover, the levels of intracellular H2O2 and caspase-3 activity were significantly lower in the sperm cells that were frozen and thawed in media supplemented with BDNF compared with in the control group. Conclusion(s) BDNF supplementation to sperm freezing or thawing media has protective effects against oxidative stress and apoptosis in frozen-thawed human spermatozoa and could improve sperm function, probably through the activation of AKT. © 2016 American Society for Reproductive Medicin

Decision-to-incision times and maternal and infant outcomes.

Journal ArticleOBJECTIVE: To measure decision-to-incision intervals and related maternal and neonatal outcomes in a cohort of women undergoing emergency cesarean deliveries at multiple university-based hospitals comprising the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. METHODS: All women undergoing a primary cesarean delivery at a Network center during a 2-year time span were prospectively ascertained. Emergency procedures were defined as those performed for umbilical cord prolapse, placental abruption, placenta previa with hemorrhage, nonreassuring fetal heart rate pattern, or uterine rupture. Detailed information regarding maternal and neonatal outcomes, including the interval from the decision time to perform cesarean delivery to the actual skin incision, was collected. RESULTS: Of the 11,481 primary cesarean deliveries, 2,808 were performed for an emergency indication. Of these, 1,814 (65%) began within 30 minutes of the decision to operate. Maternal complication rates, including endometritis, wound infection, and operative injury, were not related to the decision-to-incision interval. Measures of newborn compromise including umbilical artery pH less than 7 and intubation in the delivery room were significantly greater when the cesarean delivery was commenced within 30 minutes, likely attesting to the need for expedited delivery. Of the infants with indications for an emergency cesarean delivery who were delivered more than 30 minutes after the decision to operate, 95% did not experience a measure of newborn compromise. CONCLUSION: Approximately one third of primary cesarean deliveries performed for emergency indications are commenced more than 30 minutes after the decision to operate, and the majority were for nonreassuring heart rate tracings. In these cases, adverse neonatal outcomes were not increased. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2

Multi-center external validation of an automated method segmenting and differentiating atypical lipomatous tumors from lipomas using radiomics and deep-learning on MRI

Background: As differentiating between lipomas and atypical lipomatous tumors (ALTs) based on imaging is challenging and requires biopsies, radiomics has been proposed to aid the diagnosis. This study aimed to externally and prospectively validate a radiomics model differentiating between lipomas and ALTs on MRI in three large, multi-center cohorts, and extend it with automatic and minimally interactive segmentation methods to increase clinical feasibility. Methods: Three study cohorts were formed, two for external validation containing data from medical centers in the United States (US) collected from 2008 until 2018 and the United Kingdom (UK) collected from 2011 until 2017, and one for prospective validation consisting of data collected from 2020 until 2021 in the Netherlands. Patient characteristics, MDM2 amplification status, and MRI scans were collected. An automatic segmentation method was developed to segment all tumors on T1-weighted MRI scans of the validation cohorts. Segmentations were subsequently quality scored. In case of insufficient quality, an interactive segmentation method was used. Radiomics performance was evaluated for all cohorts and compared to two radiologists. Findings: The validation cohorts included 150 (54% ALT), 208 (37% ALT), and 86 patients (28% ALT) from the US, UK and NL. Of the 444 cases, 78% were automatically segmented. For 22%, interactive segmentation was necessary due to insufficient quality, with only 3% of all patients requiring manual adjustment. External validation resulted in an AUC of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.66, 0.82) in US data and 0.86 (0.80, 0.92) in UK data. Prospective validation resulted in an AUC of 0.89 (0.83, 0.96). The radiomics model performed similar to the two radiologists (US: 0.79 and 0.76, UK: 0.86 and 0.86, NL: 0.82 and 0.85). Interpretation: The radiomics model extended with automatic and minimally interactive segmentation methods accurately differentiated between lipomas and ALTs in two large, multi-center external cohorts, and in prospective validation, performing similar to expert radiologists, possibly limiting the need for invasive diagnostics. Funding: Hanarth fonds.</p

National survey of variations in practice in the prevention of surgical site infections in adult cardiac surgery, United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland

Background: Currently no national standards exist for the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) in cardiac surgery. SSI rates range from 1% to 8% between centres. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore and characterize variation in approaches to SSI prevention in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (ROI). Methods: Cardiac surgery centres were surveyed using electronic web-based questionnaires to identify variation in SSI prevention at the level of both institution and consultant teams. Surveys were developed and undertaken through collaboration between the Cardiothoracic Interdisciplinary Research Network (CIRN), Public Health England (PHE) and the National Cardiac Benchmarking Collaborative (NCBC) to encompass routine pre-, intra- and postoperative practice. Findings: Nineteen of 38 centres who were approached provided data and included responses from 139 consultant teams. There was no missing data from those centres that responded. The results demonstrated substantial variation in over 40 aspects of SSI prevention. These included variation in SSI surveillance, reporting of SSI infection rates to external bodies, utilization of SSI risk prediction tools, and the use of interventions such as sternal support devices and gentamicin impregnated sponges. Conclusion: Measured variation in SSI prevention in cardiac centres across the UK and ROI is evidence of clinical uncertainty as to best practice, and has identified areas for quality improvement as well as knowledge gaps to be addressed by future research

Ruminant Brucellosis in the Kafr El Sheikh Governorate of the Nile Delta, Egypt: Prevalence of a Neglected Zoonosis

Brucellosis is a zoonosis of mammals caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. It is responsible for a vast global burden imposed on human health through disability and on animal productivity. In humans brucellosis causes a range of flu-like symptoms and chronic debilitating illness. In livestock brucellosis causes economic losses as a result of abortion, infertility and decreased milk production. The main routes for human infection are consumption of contaminated dairy products and contact with infected ruminants. The control of brucellosis in humans depends on its control in ruminants, for which accurate estimates of the frequency of infection are very useful, especially in areas with no previous frequency estimates. We studied the seroprevalence of brucellosis and its geographic distribution among domestic ruminants in one governorate of the Nile Delta region, Egypt. In the study area, the seroprevalence of ruminant brucellosis is very high and has probably increased considerably since the early 1990s. The disease is widespread but more concentrated around major animal markets. These findings question the efficacy of the control strategy in place and highlight the high infection risk for the animal and human populations of the area and the urgent need for an improved control strategy

Policing the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis: a critical test of partner choice

In legume-Rhizobium symbioses, specialised soil bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen in return for carbon. However, ineffective strains can arise, making discrimination essential. Discrimination can occur via partner choice, where legumes prevent ineffective strains from entering, or via sanctioning, where plants provide fewer resources. Several studies have inferred that legumes exercise partner choice, but the rhizobia compared were not otherwise isogenic. To test when and how plants discriminate ineffective strains we developed sets of fixing and non-fixing strains that differed only in the expression of nifH - essential for nitrogen fixation - and could be visualised using marker genes. We show that the plant is unable to select against the non-fixing strain at the point of entry, but that non-fixing nodules are sanctioned. We also used the technique to characterise mixed nodules (containing both a fixing and a non-fixing strain), whose frequency could be predicted using a simple diffusion model. We discuss that sanctioning is likely to evolve in preference to partner choice in any symbiosis where partner quality cannot be adequately assessed until goods or services are actively exchanged