40 research outputs found

    Change in antioxidant and lignifying enzyme activities in rubbing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) internodes

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    In tomato plant, rubbing applied to a young internode inhibits elongation of the rubbed internode and its neighbouring one. These morphological changes were correlated with an increase in lignification enzyme activities, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and peroxidases (POD), 24 h after rubbing of theforth internode. Furthermore, a decrease in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content was detected in the rubbed internode and the upper one. Lignin synthesis in tomato plant measured 14 days after mechanical stress application was significantly stimulated in the rubbed internodes (n°4) as compared with the control. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses revealed that lignin synthesized in response to mechanical elicitation displayed a distinct structure, substantially enriched in syringyl (S) units, as compared to constitutive lignin. Taken together, our results suggest that the decrease in rubbed internode length is as a result of IAA oxidation, increases in enzyme activities (PAL and POD) and cell wall rigidification induced by lignification process.Key words: Mechanical stimulation, Solanum lycopersicum, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), lignin

    Postendovascular thoracic aortic repair subclavian steal syndrome revealed by severe headache

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    AbstractSubclavian steal syndrome (SCSS) has been known since 1960 in the medical literature. Its principal cause is atherosclerosis responsible of occlusion of the subclavian artery (SCA). It is the pathological process in which blood flows in reverse direction from the vertebral artery (VA) to the SCA. Usually asymptomatic, but a variety of symptoms may develop involving the vertebro-basilar and/or the carotid territories and may be precipitated by exercise of the upper extremity. In some circumstances it can be iatrogenic complicating the course of a thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) when the left SCA is covered by the endoprosthesis, which is a necessity many times giving the frequent proximity of the acute thoracic pathologies to the origin of this vessel.We present a case of severe headache occurring after a TEVAR with intentional coverage of the origin of the left SCA. This headache was the only symptom from which the patient complained, and which disappeared immediately after carotid-SCA bypass. Other devastating complications can happen, which gave as a concern about the management of SCA when decision to practice a TEVAR is taken

    The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

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    INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

    Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

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    Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

    L'activité physique à l'hôpital psychiatrique

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    info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

    Assessment of the climatic condition’s impact on volatiles, polyphenols and mineral contents in tunisian olive tree (Olea europaea L.)

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    The severity of climate causes biochemical and nutritional changes in plants. Our study focuses on the adaptation of the olive tree to the climatic conditions by the improvement of essential oils, polyphenols and macro-elements synthesis in leaves, stems and roots of Meski, growing under various bioclimatic zones of Tunisia (North, Centre and South). The mineral content was determined using a flame photometer and the volatile components were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Meski cultivar resists to severe climatic conditions, in maintaining its nitrogen content almost constant in leaf and wood for all studied areas. Moreover, leaves showed richness in calcium and sodium than roots for all areas. The GC-MS analysis of Meski leaves allowed the identification of fifty seven components. The main constituents were (E)-β-damascenone, nepetalactone, geranic acid, (E)-β-damascone, (E)-nerolidol, (E)-2-decenal whose levels varied significantly with climate conditions. In fact, to adapt to the severity of climate, southern Meski leaves produced more essential oils and polyphenols than the northern ones. Therefore, the increase of essential oils and polyphenols can be considered as a response of the tree to surround aggressions and to oppose the oxidative stress that results from the severity of climatic conditions, characteristic of the southern area
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