A comparison of leaf sucrose accumulation and regulation between plants of C.Plantagineum dried in the light and dark

The resurrection plant C. plantagineum is able to survive almost complete water loss in their vegetative tissues and can then rehydrate rapidly on rewatering. The ability to recover completely from dehydration has been attributed in part to the ability of the plant to accumulate large quantities of sucrose. The accumulation of sucrose stabilises membranes, protects proteins and contributes to cellular osmoregulation during water stress. However, it has been observed in C. wilmsii by research group of Farrant (unpublished) that sucrose accumulations differ significantly when dehydration is carried out in the light and the dark. Farrant (unpublished) observed a significant increase in sucrose accumulation when dehydration was carried in light while dehydration in the dark resulted in very low amount of sucrose. Based on these findings, using the plant C. plantagineum, metabolic factors, which could contribute to differences, observed in C. wilmsii for sucrose accumulation in both light and dark was examined in this project. To achieve this, three enzymes in relation to sucrose accumulation from leaves dried in both light and dark treatments were examined, namely: hexokinase, acid invertase and aldolase. The amount of glucose, fructose and sucrose during the dehydration process in both light and dark treatments were also examined. Results obtained show a significant decrease in sucrose (9.8-fold decrease) when tissues of C. plantagineum where dried in the dark as opposed to the light. Furthermore, the amount of hexose sugars was also significantly lower in dark dehydrated tissues. Moreover, the enzyme data for dark dehydrated samples showed that both aldolase and hexokinase activity levels were significantly low. In contrast, enzyme data for the light dehydrated tissues showed that aldolase and hexokinase activities were maintained, although a higher level of aldolase activity was recorded, until approximately 10% RWC where a drop-in activity was recorded for both enzyme. However, acid invertase activity was comparable for both light and dark dehydrated tissues. Thus, it seems that the down regulation of aldolase during dehydration in the dark might be responsible for the low sucrose content obtained in the dark for C. plantagineum

18F-FDG PET in the Diagnosis of Vascular Prosthetic Graft Infection: A Diagnostic Test Accuracy Meta-Analysis.

For the diagnosis of vascular prosthetic graft infection (VPGI), an intra-operative peri-graft biopsy is often required. Controversy exists regarding the use of imaging techniques in the diagnostic process. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 18-fluorine fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in VPGI

Effect of Low Skeletal Muscle Mass on Post-operative Survival of Patients With Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Prognostic Factor Review and Meta-Analysis of Time-to-Event Data.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND Low psoas muscle mass is associated with increased mortality and morbidity after surgery. Recent evidence has linked low psoas muscle mass with survival after abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic role of low skeletal muscle mass in survival of patients with AAA undergoing open or endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). METHODS A review of the literature was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018107793). The prognostic factor of interest was degenerative loss of skeletal muscle. A time-to-event data meta-analysis was performed for all cause mortality using the inverse variance method and the results were reported as summary hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Pooled estimates of peri-operative outcome data were calculated using the odds ratio (OR) or risk difference (RD) and 95% CI. Random-effects models of meta-analysis were applied. RESULTS Seven observational cohort studies reporting a total of 1,440 patients were eligible for quantitative synthesis. Patients with low skeletal muscle mass had a significantly higher hazard of mortality than those without low skeletal muscle mass (HR 1.66, 95% CI 1.15-2.40; p = .007). Subgroup analysis including only patients who underwent EVAR showed a marginal survival benefit for patients without low skeletal muscle mass (HR 1.86, 95% CI 1.00-3.43; p = .05). Meta-analysis of two studies found no significant difference in peri-operative mortality (RD 0.04, 95% CI -0.13 to 0.21) and morbidity (OR 1.58, 95% CI 0.90-2.76; p = .11) between patients with and without low skeletal muscle mass. CONCLUSION There is a significant link between low skeletal muscle mass and mortality in patients undergoing AAA repair. Prospective studies validating the use of body composition for risk prediction after aortic surgery are required before this tool can be used to support decision making and patient selection