Synergism between potassium sorbate dips and brief exposure to high CO2 or O-2 at curing temperature for the control of citrus postharvest green and blue molds

Synergistic effects and very effective control of citrus postharvest green and blue molds, caused by Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum, respectively, were observed on artificially inoculated ‘Valencia’ oranges and ‘Clemenules’ and ‘Ortanique’ mandarins after a potassium sorbate (PS) treatment was followed by 2 days of storage in atmospheres of elevated CO2 or O2 at a curing temperature. A combined treatment consisting of 60-s dips in aqueous solutions of 3% PS heated to 62 °C was followed by 48-h exposure to air, 15 kPa CO2 or 30 kPa O2 at 33 °C. Control treatment was a 60-s water dip at 20 °C followed by 24-h exposure to air at 20 °C. Synergism was observed on citrus fruit either incubated at 20 °C for up to 22 days, simulating direct commercialization, or stored at 5 °C for up to 45 days, simulating commercial cold storage. This research offers potential new tools to the citrus industry for implementation of nonpolluting integrated postharvest disease management programs, especially devoted to high added value organic markets or export markets with zero residue tolerance

Evaluation of sodium benzoate and other food additives for the control of citrus postharvest green and blue molds

The curative activity of the food additives dehydroacetic acid, dimethyl dicarbonate, ethylene diamine tetracetic acid, sodium acetate, and sodium benzoate (SB) was tested in in vivo preliminary screenings against green and blue molds on citrus fruit artificially inoculated 24 h before with Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum, respectively. SB was the most effective compound and it was further tested in trials simulating postharvest industrial applications. Dip treatments for 60 s with 3% (w/v) SB heated above 50 °C resulted in about 90% reduction of green and blue mold incidence on ‘Valencia’ oranges inoculated, treated, and incubated at 20 °C and 90% RH for 7 days. This treatment was also effective on ‘Lanelate’ oranges, ‘Fino’ lemons and ‘Ortanique’ mandarins, but not on ‘Clemenules’ mandarins. Heated solutions combining SB with low doses (25 or 50 μL L−1) of the fungicide imazalil (IMZ) were synergistic and greatly improved the efficacy of stand-alone treatments. On ‘Valencia’ oranges stored for 8 weeks at 5 °C followed by 7 days of shelf-life at 20 °C, this combination reduced the incidence of green and blue molds almost by 100%. It was found in additional trials to test the preventive activity that 3% SB dips at 50 °C for 60 s did not reduce green mold on ‘Valencia’ oranges treated, inoculated with P. digitatum 24 h later, and incubated at 20 °C for 7 days. It can be concluded from this work that heated SB aqueous solutions might be in the future an interesting nonpolluting disease control alternative for the commercialization of citrus in markets with zero tolerance to fungicide residues

Antifungal activity of sodium propylparaben alone or in combination with low doses of imazalil against Penicillium decay on citrus fruit

The performance of postharvest treatments with sodium propylparaben (SPP), alone or combined with low doses of the fungicide imazalil (IMZ), against citrus green (GM) and blue (BM) molds was evaluated on several citrus species and cultivars artificially inoculated with Penicillium digitatum and P. italicum, respectively, and incubated at 20 °C or cold-stored at 5 °C. Effectiveness of 100 mM SPP dips at 20 °C for 60 s was higher on oranges than on mandarins, with GM and BM incidence reductions of up to 60–90 % after 7 days at 20 °C. Irrespective of citrus cultivar and storage condition, SPP generally improved the curative action of 25 μl l−1 IMZ to control Penicillium molds. In additional tests, 100 mM SPP dips at 20 °C for 60 s only prevented GM on ‘Valencia’ oranges inoculated 24 h after treatment when combined with IMZ. It can be concluded that postharvest SPP treatments show promise as an effective alternative to be considered in citrus postharvest disease control programs

On-line UV-C prototype for postharvest antifungal treatment of citrus fruits

Synthetic fungicides used for postharvest treatment of citrus fruits are considered by consumers as a risk to human health and environment and alternatives to these chemicals that leave no residue on fruit are increasingly demanded. UV-C light irradiation is a clean and safe technology that when applied at the right doses may induce fruit resistance to postharvest diseases, reducing the need for chemical treatments. The objective of present study was to evaluate the preventive effect of UV-C light treatments against citrus postharvest green mould caused by the pathogen Penicillium digitatum. For this purpose, ‘Lanelate’ oranges and ‘Ortanique’ mandarins were puncture-injured in one side of the equatorial zone, treated with UV-C light at doses of 2.5 or 5 kJ/m2 and held at 20ºC and 90% RH for 6 days before inoculation with P. digitatum at 103 or 104 spores/ml. Control fruit was inoculated but not treated. Four replicates of 10 fruit each were used for each treatment. A new UV-C reactor prototype was used for postharvest treatment of citrus fruits. This prototype was able to treat the fruit while rolling, therefore exposing the surface of the fruit more homogeneously to UV-C light. The reactor, assembled on a commercial 3-m long roller conveyor, consisted of three low pressure 55-W mercury-vapour lamps, mounted on an aluminium frame placed 16 cm above the conveyor belt. UV-C average power supplied by the lamps at 6 cm above the conveyor belt was 5 mW/cm2. In order to regulate the flow rate and thus the UV-C exposure dose, the speed of the conveyor belt was set to provide a treatment time from 25 s to 2 min, which yielded a UV-C light dose from 2.25 to 5 kJ/m2, respectively. The number of infected fruit (disease incidence) as well as the diameter of the lesion (disease severity) and the percentage of fruit showing sporulated lesions (pathogen sporulation) were assessed after 3 and 7 days of incubation at 20ºC. Green mould incidence on ‘Lanelate’ oranges treated with a UV-C dose of 5 kJ/m2 was 64 and 42% lower than on control fruit after 3 and 7 days of incubation, respectively. Pathogen sporulation was 70 and 45% lower than on control fruit after these incubation periods. Disease severity was not significantly affected by UV-C treatments. On ‘Ortanique’ mandarins, treatments with UV-C light at 2.5 kJ/m2 reduced green mould incidence by 56% compared to non-treated fruit after 7 days of incubation. However, disease incidence and pathogen sporulation on ‘Ortanique’ mandarins treated with UV-C light at 5 kJ/m2 were similar to those on control fruit. In this case, although no rind damage was observed at the naked eye, UV-C light application probably resulted on slight phytotoxicity that counteracted the resistance induction. It can be concluded from these experiments that the election of the right UV-C dose was essential for the suitability of the treatments

Role of pharmacogenetics in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia: systematic review and future perspectives

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by remarkable toxicity and great variability in response to treatment. Plenteous pharmacogenetic studies have already been published for classical therapies, such as cytarabine or anthracyclines, but such studies remain scarce for newer drugs. There is evidence of the relevance of polymorphisms in response to treatment, although most studies have limitations in terms of cohort size or standardization of results. The different responses associated with genetic variability include both increased drug efficacy and toxicity and decreased response or resistance to treatment. A broad pharmacogenetic understanding may be useful in the design of dosing strategies and treatment guidelines. The aim of this study is to perform a review of the available publications and evidence related to the pharmacogenetics of AML, compiling those studies that may be useful in optimizing drug administrationM.S.R. research was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, through the Sara Borrell Program (CD21/00022). P.Z. contract with CIBERehd is financed by the “Infraestructura de Medicina de Precisión asociada a la Ciencia y Tecnología (IMPaCT, IMP/00009

Effects of Folinic Acid Administration on Lower Limb Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rats

Surgery under ischemic conditions, lasting up to 3 h, is routinely performed in orthopedic surgery, causing undesirable injury due to ischemia-reperfusion syndrome, with short and medium-term functional repercussions. To date, there is no established prophylactic treatment. In this work we evaluated folinic acid (FA) in a rodent model of lower limb ischemia-reperfusion (IRI-LL). 36 male WAG rats underwent 3 h of lower limb ischemia. In the saline group, rats received intraperitoneal administration of saline (used as vehicle for treatment). In the experimental group, rats were pretreated with FA (2.5 mg/kg) before the end of ischemia. After ischemia, animals were sacrificed at 3 h, 24 h or 14 days (for biochemical determination (Na+, K+, Cl-, urea, creatinine, CK, LDH, ALP, ALT, and AST), pathological assessment, or functional study using the rotarod test; respectively). Another six animals were used to establish the reference values. The prophylactic administration of FA significantly reduced the elevation of biochemical markers, especially those that most directly indicate muscle damage (CK and LDH). In addition, it also improved direct tissue damage, both in terms of edema, weight, PMN infiltrate and percentage of damaged fibers. Finally, the administration of FA allowed the animals to equal baseline values in the rotarod test; what did not occur in the saline group, where pre-ischemia levels were not recovered. Following 3 h of lower limb ischemia, FA minimizes the increase of CK and LDH, as well as local edema and leukocyte infiltration, allowing a faster recovery of limb functionality. Therefore, it could be considered as a prophylactic treatment when tourniquet is used in clinics.This research received funding from the University of The Basque Country UPV/EHU (grant reference GIU19/088)