Cryphonectric acid and other minor metabolites from a hypovirulent strain of Cryphonectria parasitica

Investigations carried out on secondary metabolites produced in culture by a hypovirulent strain of Cryphonectria parasitica allowed the isolation of several compounds which were characterized by NMR analysis and derivatization reactions. The most abundant metabolite was a new compound, called cryphonectric acid (1). Other metabolites were diaporthin, the only known phytotoxic compound isolated from both virulent and hypovirulent strains of C. parasitica, (+)-orthosporin, and L-p-hydroxyphenyllactic acid (HOPLA). Root growth activity of the purified compounds was evaluated both on tomato seedlings and maize subapical segments

Utilização de chuveiros na sala pré-ordenha e sua influência na produtividade de búfalas da raça Murrah (Bubalus bubalis).

O estudo foi realizado com 64 búfalas, em dois tratamentos (1 e 2), durante seis dias. No primeiro, antes da ordenha, os animais permaneceram 1h em sala de espera com acesso ao chuveiro No segundo, os animais não tiveram acesso ao chuveiro. Foram registrados Índice de Temperatura de Globo e Umidade (ITGU) e a Umidade Relativa (UR) das salas de ordenha e de espera, Temperatura de Corpo (TC), Frequência Respiratória (FR), Reatividade (REAT), Nível de Estresse (NEST) e a Produção Diária de Leite (PL). Os dados foram analisados com o auxílio do programa SAS. O efeito da FR não foi significativo (P>0,57) sobre a PL. Não houve diferença significativa na PL para a REAT. O NEST foi o mesmo nos dois tratamentos. As regressões da característica (PL_AJ) sobre ITGU Interno (ITGU_I), ITGU Externo (ITGU_E), TC e UR não foram significativas (P>0,12). No tratamento 2 foram observados maior número de animais em classes de estresse, verificou-se que o tratamento 1 possibilitou a mudança ( alguns animais) da zona de alerta ou estresse para a zona de conforto térmico em relação ao ITGU_I. No tratamento 2, todos os animais estavam em estresse térmico. Os animais submetidos ao estresse calórico em ambas as situações utilizaram com eficiência o seu sistema termorregulador, sem interferir na produção de leite

Membrane-binding peptides for extracellular vesicles on-chip analysis

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) present fairly distinctive lipid membrane features in the extracellular environment. These include high curvature, lipid-packing defects and a relative abundance in lipids such as phosphatidylserine and ceramide. sEV membrane could be then considered as a "universal" marker, alternative or complementary to traditional, characteristic, surface-associated proteins. Here, we introduce the use of membrane-sensing peptides as new, highly efficient ligands to directly integrate sEV capturing and analysis on a microarray platform. Samples were analysed by label-free, single-particle counting and sizing, and by fluorescence co-localisation immune staining with fluorescent anti-CD9/anti-CD63/anti-CD81 antibodies. Peptides performed as selective yet general sEV baits and showed a binding capacity higher than anti-tetraspanins antibodies. Insights into surface chemistry for optimal peptide performances are also discussed, as capturing efficiency is strictly bound to probes surface orientation effects. We anticipate that this new class of ligands, also due to the versatility and limited costs of synthetic peptides, may greatly enrich the molecular toolbox for EV analysis

Radioisotopic purity and imaging properties of cyclotron-produced 99mTc using direct 100Mo(p,2n) reaction

Evaluation of the radioisotopic purity of technetium-99m (99mTc) produced in GBq amounts by proton bombardment of enriched molibdenum-100 (100Mo) metallic targets at low proton energies (i.e. within 15\u201320 MeV) is conducted. This energy range was chosen since it is easily achievable by many conventional medical cyclotrons already available in the nuclear medicine departments of hospitals. The main motivation for such a study is in the framework of the research activities at the international level that have been conducted over the last few years to develop alternative production routes for the most widespread radioisotope used in medical imaging. The analysis of technetium isotopes and isomeric states (9xTc) present in the pertechnetate saline Na99mTcO4 solutions, obtained after the extraction/purification procedure, reveals radionuclidic purity levels basically in compliance with the limits recently issued by European Pharmacopoeia 9.3 (2018 Sodium pertechnetate (99mTc) injection 4801\u20133). Moreover, the impact of 9xTc contaminant nuclides on the final image quality is thoroughly evaluated, analyzing the emitted high-energy gamma rays and their influence on the image quality. The spatial resolution of images from cyclotron-produced 99mTc acquired with a mini-gamma camera was determined and compared with that obtained using technetium-99m solutions eluted from standard 99Mo/99mTc generators. The effect of the increased image background contribution due to Compton-scattered higher-energy gamma rays (E \u3b3 \u2009\u2009>\u2009\u2009200\u2009keV), which could cause image-contrast deterioration, was also studied. It is concluded that, due to the high radionuclidic purity of cyclotron-produced 99mTc using 100Mo(p,2n)99mTc reaction at a proton beam energy in the range 15.7\u201319.4 MeV, the resulting image properties are well comparable with those from the generator-eluted 99mTc

Disipación de los insecticidas pirimifós-metil y diclorvós en granos de maíz (Zea mays L.) almacenados

The aim of this work was to analyze the dissipation dynamics of the insecticides pirimi-phos-methyl and dichlorvos in maize (Zea mays L.) grains after post-harvest spray applications. The recommendations for their use for Argentina and the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) established by local and international pesticide regulations were considered. Supervised experimental trials were conducted in stored maize grains treated with 10 cc.t-1 of pirimiphos-methyl and 20 cc.t-1 of dichlorvos. Samples were monitored 2, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after application. The pesticides were extracted from the maize grains using the QuEChERS technique and the residues were determined using high-resolution gas chromatography with mass detector. Residue dissipation percentages and daily dissipation rates differed between active ingredients. At 48 hours after application, pirimiphos-methyl residues were 5.1±0.42 μg.g-1, i.e. below the MRLs established by the Argentine Service for Agrifood Health and Quality (10 μg.g-1), the USA (8 μg.g-1) and the Codex Alimentarius (7 μg.g-1), and close to the MRLs established by the EU (5 μg.g-1). Dichlorvos residues reached 2.97±0.27 μg.g-1, and required at least a 90-day withholding period to be lower than the MRLs of the EU.El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la dinámica de disipación de los insecticidas pirimifós-metil y diclorvós aplicados durante el almacenamiento de granos de maíz (Zea mays L.). Se compararon los niveles de residuos recomendados para Argentina con el Límite Máximo de Residuos (LMR) establecido internacionalmente. Los ensayos fueron realizados en un ambiente controlado. Se aplicaron dosis de 10 cm3.t-1 de pirimifós-metil y 20 cm3.t-1 de diclorvós sobre granos de maíz almacenados. Las muestras se tomaron a los 2, 30, 60, 90 y 120 días desde la aplicación. La extracción de plaguicidas del tejido vegetal se realizó mediante la técnica QuEChERS y la determinación de residuos por cromatografía gaseosa de alta resolución con detector de masa. El porcentaje de disipación de residuos y la tasa diaria de disipación fue diferente para ambos principios activos. Los residuos de pirimifós-metil a las 48 horas de la aplicación fueron de 5,1±0,42 μg.g-1, i.e., estuvieron por debajo de los LMR establecidos por SENASA (10 μg.g-1), EUA (8 μg.g-1), Codex Alimentarius (7 μg.g-1) y cercanos a los LMR de UE (5 μg.g-1). Para diclorvós los residuos a los 30 días alcanzaron valores de 2,97±0,27 μg.g-1 y se requirieron al menos 90 días para alcanzar valores menores a los LMR de la UE.publishedVersionFil: Strada, Julieta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Strada, Julieta. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Manfredi; Argentina.Fil: Bruno, Cecilia Inés. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Cátedra de Estadística y Biometría; Argentina.Fil: Bruno, Cecilia Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Centro Científico Tecnológico (CCT Córdoba); Argentina.Fil: Rojas, Dante E. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro de Investigación de Agroindustria (CNIA). Instituto Tecnología de Alimentos (ITA). Laboratorio de Contaminantes Químicos; Argentina.Fil: Cristos, Diego S. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro de Investigación de Agroindustria (CNIA). Instituto Tecnología de Alimentos (ITA). Laboratorio de Contaminantes Químicos; Argentina.Fil: Nasetta, Mirtha María. Gobierno de la Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (MINCyT). Centro de Excelencia en Productos y Procesos (CEPROCOR); Argentina.Fil: Balzarini, Mónica Graciela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Cátedra de Estadística y Biometría; Argentina.Fil: Balzarini, Mónica Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Centro Científico Tecnológico (CCT Córdoba); Argentina.Fil: Conles, Martha Yolanda. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Argentina.Fil: Ricca, Alejandra P. Instituto de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Martínez, María José. Instituto de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Manfredi. Laboratorio Calidad Nutricional de Granos; Argentina

ABCD2, ABCD2-I, and OTTAWA scores for stroke risk assessment: a direct retrospective comparison

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a neurologic emergency characterized by cerebral ischemia eliciting a temporary focal neurological deficit. Many clinical prediction scores have been proposed to assess the risk of stroke after TIA; however, studies on their clinical validity and comparisons among them are scarce. The objective is to compare the accuracy of ABCD2, ABCD2-I, and OTTAWA scores in the prediction of a stroke at 7, 90 days, and 1 year in patients presenting with TIA. Single-centre, retrospective study including patients with TIA admitted to the Emergency Department of our third-level, University Hospital, between 2018 and 2019. Five hundred three patients were included. Thirty-nine (7.7%) had a stroke within 1 year from the TIA: 9 (1.7%) and 24 (4.7%) within 7 and 90 days, respectively. ABCD2, ABCD2-I, and OTTAWA scores were significantly higher in patients who developed a stroke. AUROCs ranged from 0.66 to 0.75, without statistically significant differences at each time-point. Considering the best cut-off of each score, only ABCD2 > 3 showed a sensitivity of 100% only in the prediction of stroke within 7 days. Among clinical items of each score, duration of symptoms, previous TIA, hemiparesis, speech disturbance, gait disturbance, previous cerebral ischemic lesions, and known carotid artery disease were independent predictors of stroke. Clinical scores have moderate prognostic accuracy for stroke after TIA. Considering the independent predictors for stroke, our study indicates the need to continue research and prompts the development of new tools on predictive scores for TIA

Psychological Treatment for Headache : A Pilot Study on the Efficacy of Joint Psychoeducational Group and Relaxation Training

Headache is a severe and disabling chronic condition. Literature shows that psycho-educational interventions may be useful for several chronic pain disorders. We tested an integrated psycho-educational and relaxation intervention addressed to patients suffering from headache. The outcome indicators are a direct measure of headache (headache days per month) and two indirect measures (disability due to headache and medications used). At the end of the intervention patients also filled in a satisfaction questionnaire. Forty-seven subjects participated to the study. The treatment significantly reduced frequency of headache attacks (Wilcoxon p<0.01) and disability caused by headache (Wilcoxon p<0.001). There was also a sensible reduction in medication use. Almost all patients judged the intervention positively. An integrated approach may be very useful to ameliorate the burden of headache, to discontinue medication and to improve quality of lif