Molecular Detection of the 1BL.1RS Translocation in Hellenic Bread Wheat Cultivars

The main motive of the present work was to detect and confirm the presence of the 1BL.1RS wheat-rye translocation in elite Hellenic bread wheat germplasm. For this, a molecular method was employed and seven Hellenic bread wheat cultivars (Acheloos, Acheron, Chios, Elisavet, Myconos, Orpheus, and Vergina) were studied. A rye population originated from Florina, and cultivar Kavkaz/Cgn, one of the donors of the 1BL.1RS translocation to bread wheat, were used as positive checks. The polymerase chain reaction was applied and two promoters for bread wheat gene alleles located on short arm of chromosome 1B (GLU-B3, GLI-B3) and one promoter for a rye gene (SEC I) located on short arm of chromosome 1R, were involved. It was demonstrated that cultivars Acheron, Elisavet and Orpheus do carry the 1BL.1RS translocation, whereas the rest of the varieties studied, they do not it. It was concluded that cultivars Acheron, Elisavet and Orpheus that carry the translocation, could be crossed to other elite genotypes lucking the translocation and produce new varieties possessing the advantages of the 1BL.1RS translocation. A special attention should be given to cultivar Acheron since this cultivar, despite the presence of the translocation carries favourable alleles in other gene loci affecting positively the quality of the produced bread

Superphosphate fertilizer industry

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston University, 1949. This item was digitized by the Internet Archive

Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) Program for Glycemic Control

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement and evaluate the impact of Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) program with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. The goals were to improve glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) and improve patient satisfaction. Methods: A quality improvement project using the Iowa model was implemented in a primary care setting in Southern California to provide DSME program for adults with type 2 diabetes. A nurse practitioner conducted three DSME group sessions, which were done for 90 minutes per session in a 4-month period. The American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) 7 self-care behavior guidelines were used to develop the DSME program. Five patients with type 2 DM participated in the program. Patient satisfaction and A1C levels were collected at baseline and after the completion of the program. Results: The average AIC for patients at the initiation of DSME was 9%. After the completion of DSME program, the mean reduction in A1C was 1.44%, and the range change was 1% to 1.8 %. Twenty percent of total participants met the objective of decreased A1C level below 7%. Five patients, (100%), had 10% decrease in their A1C levels after completing the program and scored “highly satisfied” with the DSME program. Conclusion: As the prevalence and incidence of diabetes increase, a coordinated model of care can meet the growing demand for access and utilization of DSME programs. Health care providers in primary care settings can replicate DSME programs focusing on chronic conditions to improve outcomes

New stable QTLs for berry weight do not colocalize with QTLs for seed traits in cultivated grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)

International audienceBACKGROUND: In grapevine, as in other fruit crops, fruit size and seed content are key components of yield and quality; however, very few Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) for berry weight and seed content (number, weight, and dry matter percentage) have been discovered so far. To identify new stable QTLs for marker-assisted selection and candidate gene identification, we performed simultaneous QTL detection in four mapping populations (seeded or seedless) with various genetic backgrounds. RESULTS: For berry weight, we identified five new QTLs, on linkage groups (LGs) 1, 8, 11, 17 and 18, in addition to the known major QTL on LG 18. The QTL with the largest effect explained up to 31% of total variance and was found in two genetically distant populations on LG 17, where it colocalized with a published putative domestication locus. For seed traits, besides the major QTLs on LG 18 previously reported, we found four new QTLs explaining up to 51% of total variance, on LGs 4, 5, 12 and 14. The previously published QTL for seed number on LG 2 was found related in fact to sex. We found colocalizations between seed and berry weight QTLs only for the major QTL on LG 18 in a seedless background, and on LGs 1 and 13 in a seeded background. Candidate genes belonging to the cell number regulator CNR or cytochrome P450 families were found under the berry weight QTLs on LGs 1, 8, and 17. The involvement of these gene families in fruit weight was first described in tomato using a QTL-cloning approach. Several other interesting candidate genes related to cell wall modifications, water import, auxin and ethylene signalling, transcription control, or organ identity were also found under berry weight QTLs. CONCLUSION: We discovered a total of nine new QTLs for berry weight or seed traits in grapevine, thereby increasing more than twofold the number of reliable QTLs for these traits available for marker assisted selection or candidate gene studies. The lack of colocalization between berry and seed QTLs suggests that these traits may be partly dissociated

Fibrotic reaction to hyaluronic acid fillers in the face.

BACKGROUND Hyaluronic acids (HAs) can have very different actions not only depending on injector and host factors but also depending on their molecular weight. Whereas short chain HA has immunological activity long chain HA influences fibroblasts and may stimulate them to produce collagen. Although this is generally thought to be a positive feature it may be disadvantageous in certain localizations. PATIENTS AND METHODS We have encountered 23 patients who developed fibrous tissue next to the nasolabial folds accentuating them and becoming very obvious while smiling. Hyaluronidase injection did not reduce this mass. RESULTS Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injection led to rapid improvement. DISCUSSION Fibrotic tissue reaction not responding to hyaluronidase may be the result of HA injection and can effectively be treated with intralesional steroid injection

Smoking inhibits the frequency of bronchovascular bundle thickening in sarcoidosis

RATIONALE/OBJECTIVES: Smoking has been associated with decreased incidence and prevalence of sarcoidosis, but few studies have evaluated effects of smoking on clinical parameters of the disease. The objectives were to determine the association of smoking with radiographic patterns and to evaluate the associations of these smoking-related radiographic patterns on airflow obstruction in sarcoidosis. METHODS: Clinical data and CT scans of 124 patients with sarcoidosis were reviewed. CT scans were assessed for lymph nodes, nodules, bronchiectasis, bronchovascular bundle thickening, displaced hilum, fibrosis, ground glass, emphysema, pleural changes, and alveolar opacities. CT patterns were compared between patients with and without a history of smoking. The effect of smoking on the associations between radiographic patterns and airflow obstruction was assessed with multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Smokers had less frequency of bronchovascular bundle thickening than nonsmokers (11/38 subjects(29%) vs. 50/86 subjects(58%),p=0.003) and more emphysema (7/38 subjects(18%) vs. 1/86 subjects(1%),p=0.001). Patients who had bronchovascular bundle thickening were less likely to have ever smoked (11/61 subjects(18%) vs. 27/63 subjects(43%), p=0.003) or be current smokers (4/61 subjects(7%) vs. 15/63 subjects(24%),p=0.008). Age (p=0.003) and bronchovascular bundle thickening (p=0.02) were independent predictors of airflow obstruction. There were no differences in smoking history between patients with airflow obstruction versus those without (10/37 subjects(27)% vs. 28/87 subjects(32%),p=0.63). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with sarcoidosis, smoking is associated with decreased frequency of bronchovascular bundle thickening, a very important clinical manifestation of the lung disease. Further, bronchovascular bundle thickening and age are the only independent predictors of airflow obstruction, and smoking does not confound these associations

Confirmation of random mating and indication for gene flow in the grapevine dieback fungus, Eutypa lata

Research NoteRAPD markers were used to analyze the genetic structure in an Eutypa lata population from a single vineyard located in Charente, France. The high level of genotypic diversity and the lack of genetic disequilibrium between RAPD loci strongly suggest that the population originated from random mating. Its genetic structure was similar to that previously observed within a population from a vineyard located in Herault, France. No genetic differentiation was found between the two populations separated by 390 km. Ascospore-mediated gene flow would unify E. lata populations into a panmictic population at least at the geographic scale studied

Effect of grapevine cultivar, strain of Xylophilus ampelinus and culture medium on in vitro development of bacterial necrosis

Research NoteFactorial experiments were designed to study the response of in vitro cultivated grapevine after inoculation with Xylophilus ampelinus, the causal agent of bacterial necrosis. Significant effects of culture medium, cultivar and strain were demonstrated. The possible. uses for the in vitro test are discussed

Application of fiber-reinforced bismaleimide materials to aircraft nacelle structures

Existing aircraft engine nacelle structures employ advanced composite materials to reduce weight and thereby increase overall performance. Use of advanced composite materials on existing aircraft nacelle structures includes fiber-reinforced epoxy structures and has typically been limited to regions furthest away from the hot engine core. Portions of the nacelle structure that are closer to the engine require materials with a higher temperature capability. In these portions, existing nacelle structures employ aluminum sandwich construction and skin/stringer construction. The aluminum structure is composed of many detail parts and assemblies and is usually protected by some form of ablative, insulator, or metallic thermal shield. A one-piece composite inner cowl for a new-generation engine nacelle structure has been designed using fiber-reinforced bismaleimide (BMI) materials and honeycomb core in a sandwich construction. The new composite design has many advantages over the existing aluminum structure. Multiple details were integrated into the one-piece composite design, thereby significantly reducing the number of detail parts and fasteners. The use of lightweight materials and the reduction of the number of joints result in a significant weight reduction over the aluminum design; manufacturing labor and the overall number of tools required have also been reduced. Several significant technical issues were addressed in the development of a BMI composite design. Technical evaluation of the available BMI systems led to the selection of a toughened BMI material which was resistant to microcracking under thermal cyclic loading and enhanced the damage tolerance of the structure. Technical evaluation of the degradation of BMI materials in contact with aluminum and other metals validated methods for isolation of the various materials. Graphite-reinforced BMI in contact with aluminum and some steels was found to degrade in salt spray testing. Isolation techniques such as those used for graphite-reinforced epoxy structures were shown to provide adequate protection. The springback and producibility of large BMI structures were evaluated by manufacturing prototype hardware which had the full-scale cross section of the one-piece composite structure

The impact of bariatric and metabolic surgery on cancer development.

Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) with related comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea syndrome, and fatty liver disease is one of the most common preventable risk factors for cancer development worldwide. They are responsible for at least 40% of all newly diagnosed cancers, including colon, ovarian, uterine, breast, pancreatic, and esophageal cancer. Although various efforts are being made to reduce the incidence of obesity, its prevalence continues to spread in the Western world. Weight loss therapies such as lifestyle change, diets, drug therapies (GLP-1-receptor agonists) as well as bariatric and metabolic surgery are associated with an overall risk reduction of cancer. Therefore, these strategies should always be essential in therapeutical concepts in obese patients. This review discusses pre- and post-interventional aspects of bariatric and metabolic surgery and its potential benefit on cancer development in obese patients