Toxicity and neurophysiological impacts of three plant-derived essential oils against the vineyard mealybug Planococcus ficus

Many natural products are able to control pests and can be used as alternatives for chemical treatments. Plant essential oils (EOs) have been found to exhibit some biological activity against many insects including mealybugs. This study aimed at studying the insecticidal activity and behavioral and neurophysiological impacts of three plant essential oils against the vine mealybug Planococcus ficus. The topical and fumigant toxicity of Cymbopogon citratus, Mentha piperita, and Pelargonium graveolens essential oils was evaluated against P. ficus adults. The chemical composition analysis of EOs by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed citronellal (31.69 %), menthol (73.78 %), and geraniol (39.6%), as major components, respectively. Bioassays of EOs against vine mealybug adults through fumigation toxicity method revealed lethal concentrations LC50 values of 17.01, 26.27 and 24.52 µL·L-1 air for C. citratus, M. piperita, and P. graveolens, respectively. In both topical and fumigant bioassays, essential oil from C. citratus was the most active altering the behavioral response of treated mealybugs which becomes hyperactive and disoriented. EOs induced general stress in P. ficus adults, as evidenced by oxidative stress biomarker analyses. Biochemical analyses showed that the EOs exposure reduced the activity of acetylcholinesterase and significantly induced the glutathione S-transferases and Malondialdehydes accumulation in the vine mealybug tissues. Mortality caused by lemongrass EO positively correlated with the significant decrease in the AChE activity indicating lethal neurological effects. These toxicity bioassays and neurological impact findings provide new informations for formulating effective essential oil based-insecticides to control P. ficus in the framework of integrated pest management programs

Neutral high-generation phosphorus dendrimers inhibit macrophage-mediated inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo

Inflammation is part of the physiological response of the organism to infectious diseases caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. Innate immunity, mediated by mono nuclear phagocytes, including monocytes and macrophages, is a first line of defense against infectious diseases and plays a key role triggering the delayed adaptive response that ensures an efficient defense against pathogens. Monocytes and macrophages stimu lation by pathogen antigens results in activation of different signaling pathways leading to the release of proinflammatory cyto kines. However, inflammation can also participate in the pathogenesis of several diseases, the autoimmune diseases that represent a relevant burden for human health. Dendrimers are branched, multivalent nanoparticles with a well-defined structure that have a high potential for biomedical applications. To explore new approaches to fight against the negative aspects of inflammation, we have used neutral high-generation phosphorus dendrimers bearing 48 (G3) or 96 (G4) bisphosphonate groups on their surface. These dendrimers show no toxicity and have good solubility and chemical stability in aqueous solutions. Here, we present data indicating that neutral phosphorus dendrimers show impressive antiinflammatory activities both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, these dendrimers reduced the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines from mice and human monocyte derived macrophages. In addition, these molecules present efficient antiinflammatory activity in vivo in a mouse model of subchronic inflammation. Taken together, these data suggest that neutral G3- G4 phosphorus dendrimers have strong potential applications in the therapy of inflammation and, likely, of autoimmune diseases.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Obstructive jaundice secondary to pancreatic head adenocarcinoma in a young teenage boy: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is extremely rare in childhood. We report a case of metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma in a 13-year-old boy, revealed by jaundice.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 13-year-old Moroccan boy was admitted with obstructive jaundice to the children's Hospital of Rabat, Department of Pediatric Oncology. Laboratory study results showed a high level of total and conjugated bilirubin. Computerized tomography of the abdomen showed a dilatation of the intra-hepatic and extra-hepatic bile ducts with a tissular heterogeneous tumor of the head of the pancreas and five hepatic lesions. Biopsy of a liver lesion was performed, and a histopathological examination of the sample confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Our patient underwent a palliative biliary derivation. After that, chemotherapy was administered (5-fluorouracil and epirubicin), however no significant response to treatment was noted and our patient died six months after diagnosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Malignant pancreatic tumors, especially ductal carcinomas, are exceedingly rare in the pediatric age group and their clinical features and treatment usually go unappreciated by most pediatric oncologists and surgeons.</p

Plant Genetic Resources and Germplasm Use in India

Plant genetic resource (PGR) scientists now recognize the importance of shifting from a singular focus on conservation to a focus on both conservation and utilization of germplasm in order to meet future challenges. This paper analyzes the patterns of distribution of pearl millet, six small millets, chickpea and pigeonpea germplasm over the last 10 years at the two major genebanks functioning in India: the National Genebank at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) and a Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Genebank at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), as well as the patterns of use of germplasm by millet breeders in India. Between the years of 1999-2009, ICRISAT distributed approximately 48 per cent of all its collections to breeders in India whereas NBPGR distributed 36 per cent of their collection. A total of 20 responses (30 per cent of surveys sent) were collected through this study. Sixty-five percent of respondents said that they rarely (<50 per cent of the time) use germplasm from genebanks in their breeding programs. It is important that both genebanks look into several issues in order to improve levels of distribution and utilization, collection, duplication, engagement of the private sector, access to information, and pre-breeding

Exchange of plant genetic resources: Prospects in India

National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources has the major responsibility of introducing genetic resources and distributing the same to various research Institutes/organizations within the country. It is involved in enrichment of plant genetic resources through germplasm exchange, procurement and collection from centres of diversity suitable for different agro-climatic conditions. Different biotic and abiotic stresses are the major production constraints in many crops, hence, introduction of crops from the centre of diversity is much needed to bring into superior seeds of various crops with high yield, quality, resistance to pest and diseases and tolerant to abiotic stresses through crop improvements programmes. Future emphasis is to introduce specific genotypes with special characters especially like high quality lines and lines resistant to various biotic and abiotic stresses. During the past five years 211 298 accessions including 467 995 samples of seed/planting material were introduced from 103 countries. Out of theses 116 149 accessions having 138 352 samples were germplasm while 58 024 entries having 329 704 samples were trials/nurseries entries and 1 139 wild species of different agri-horticultural crops were also introduced. During this period a total of 78 298 accessions were exported as per norms/regulation lay down by NBA and with permission of ICAR/DARE, for research purposes only. NBPGR has supplied 50 657 samples of various crops to national users in different institutes/organizations across the country for various crop improvement and breeding programmes

Avapritinib versus regorafenib in locally advanced unresectable or metastatic GI stromal tumor: A randomized, open-label phase III study

PURPOSE Primary or secondary mutations in KIT or platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) underlie tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance in most GI stromal tumors (GISTs). Avapritinib selectively and potently inhibits KIT- and PDGFRA-mutant kinases. In the phase I NAVIGATOR study (NCT02508532), avapritinib showed clinical activity against PDGFRA D842V–mutant and later-line KIT-mutant GIST. VOYAGER (NCT03465722), a phase III study, evaluated efficacy and safety of avapritinib versus regorafenib as third-line or later treatment in patients with unresectable or metastatic GIST. PATIENTS AND METHODS VOYAGER randomly assigned patients 1:1 to avapritinib 300 mg once daily (4 weeks continuously) or regorafenib 160 mg once daily (3 weeks on and 1 week off). Primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) by central radiology per RECIST version 1.1 modified for GIST. Secondary end points included objective response rate, overall survival, safety, disease control rate, and duration of response. Regorafenib to avapritinib crossover was permitted upon centrally confirmed disease progression. RESULTS Four hundred seventy-six patients were randomly assigned (avapritinib, n 5 240; regorafenib, n 5 236). Median PFS was not statistically different between avapritinib and regorafenib (hazard ratio, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.57; 4.2 v 5.6 months; P 5 .055). Overall survival data were immature at cutoff. Objective response rates were 17.1% and 7.2%, with durations of responses of 7.6 and 9.4 months for avapritinib and regorafenib; disease control rates were 41.7% (95% CI, 35.4 to 48.2) and 46.2% (95% CI, 39.7 to 52.8). Treatment-related adverse events (any grade, grade $ 3) were similar for avapritinib (92.5% and 55.2%) and regorafenib (96.2% and 57.7%). CONCLUSION Primary end point was not met. There was no significant difference in median PFS between avapritinib and regorafenib in patients with molecularly unselected, late-line GIST

Randomised phase 2 study comparing the efficacy and safety of the oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor nintedanib with single agent ifosfamide in patients with advanced, inoperable, metastatic soft tissue sarcoma after failure of first-line chemotherapy: EORTC-1506-STBSG "ANITA"

Purpose: EORTC-1506-STBSG was a prospective, multicentric, randomised, open-label phase 2 trial to assess the efficacy and safety of second-line nintedanib versus ifosfamide in patients with advanced, inoperable metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS). The primary end-point was progression-free survival.Patients/methods: Patients with a variety of STS subtypes were randomised 1:1 to nintedanib (200 mg b.i.d. p.o. until disease progression) or ifosfamide (3 g/m(2) i.v. days 1-3, every 21 days for <= 6 cycles). A Korn design was applied aiming to detect an improvement in median progression-free survival (mPFS) from 3 to 4.5 months (HR = 0.667). An interim look was incorporated to stop the trial for futility if <19 of the first 36 patients treated with nintedanib were progression-free at week 12.Results: At the interim analysis, among the first 36 eligible and evaluable patients randomised for nintedanib, only 13 (36%) were progression-free at week 12. The trial was closed for further accrual as per protocol. In total, 80 patients were randomised (40 per treatment group). The mPFS was 2.5 months (95% CI: 1.5-3.4) for nintedanib and 4.4 months (95% CI: 2.9-6.7) on ifosfamide (adjusted HR = 1.56 [80% CI: 1.14-2.13], p = 0.070). The median overall survival was 13.7 months (95% CI: 9.4-23.4) on nintedanib and 24.1 months (95% CI: 10.9-NE) on ifosfamide (adjusted HR = 1.65 [95%CI:0.89-3.06], p = 0.111). The clinical benefit rate for nintedanib and ifosfamide was 50% versus 62.5% (p = 0.368), respectively. Common treatment-related adverse events (all grades) were diarrhoea (35.9% of patients), fatigue (25.6%) and nausea (20.5%) for nintedanib; and fatigue (52.6%), nausea (44.7%) and vomiting, anorexia and alopecia (28.9% each) for ifosfamide.Conclusion: The trial was stopped for futility. The activity of nintedanib did not warrant further exploration in non-selected, advanced STSs. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.Experimentele farmacotherapi

D4.2 Final report on trade-off investigations

Research activities in METIS WP4 include several as pects related to the network-level of future wireless communication networks. Thereby, a large variety of scenarios is considered and solutions are proposed to serve the needs envis ioned for the year 2020 and beyond. This document provides vital findings about several trade-offs that need to be leveraged when designing future network-level solutions. In more detail, it elaborates on the following trade- offs: • Complexity vs. Performance improvement • Centralized vs. Decentralized • Long time-scale vs. Short time-scale • Information Interflow vs. Throughput/Mobility enha ncement • Energy Efficiency vs. Network Coverage and Capacity Outlining the advantages and disadvantages in each trade-off, this document serves as a guideline for the application of different network-level solutions in different situations and therefore greatly assists in the design of future communication network architectures.Aydin, O.; Ren, Z.; Bostov, M.; Lakshmana, TR.; Sui, Y.; Svensson, T.; Sun, W.... (2014). D4.2 Final report on trade-off investigations. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/7676