The biology of Cixius wagneri, the planthopper vector of ‘Candidatus Phlomobacter fragariae’ in strawberry production tunnels and its consequence for the epidemiology of strawberry marginal chlorosis

Abstract«Candidatus Phlomobacter fragariae» is the prevalent agent of strawberry marginal chlorosis (SMC) and is transmitted by the planthopper Cixius wagneri. Because the insect vector biology was unknown, a field experiment was set up to determine if it was able to reproduce on strawberry plants, to determine the number of insect generations per year and the ability of nymphs to transmit SMC. During spring 2004, 80 C. wagneri adults were delivered into 4 small insectproof tunnels containing 30 healthy plants. Fifteen percent of the delivered insect population were carrying the pathogen. In October 2004, only 3 young L1 instar nymphs were found in the first tunnel, demonstrating there were no new insect generations during the summer. In April 2005, 330 C. wagneri of early L1 to late L5 nymph instars were collected at the roots of the plants,clearly indicating that a single insect generation had overwintered as larvae andemerged at the following spring. All instars were shown to carry ‘Ca. P. fragariae’ (70 to 75 % of the larvae) and were able to transmit SMC as assessed by transmission assays. An insecticide treatment was applied in March 2005 in a third tunnel and a fourth tunnel was kept as a control. More than 120 C. wagneri adults were collected in the control tunnel 4 in June 2005 confirming that an insect generation arose in the tunnel, whereas no insects could be found in the treated tunnel 3. All plants were kept for two years, surveyed for symptom expression and tested for ‘Ca. P. fragariae’ infection by 16S-PCR. Results indicated a reduced mortality and SMC incidence in tunnel 3, and a higher mortality and SMC incidence in tunnel 2 than in tunnel 1, attesting that C. wagneri larvae had spread SMC and that an early insecticide treatment could control the disease.Keywords: Phloem-restricted bacteria, planthopper, insect vector, Fragaria x ananass

Triplex real-time PCR assay for sensitive and simultaneous detection of grapevine phytoplasmas of the 16SrV and 16SrXII-A groups with an endogenous analytical control

Flavescence dorée (FD) and Bois noir (BN) are the two main yellows of grapevine in Europe and are caused by phytoplasmas of the 16SrV and 16SrXII-A groups respectively. A new triplex real-time PCR assay was developed in order to detect simultaneously the FD and BN phytoplasmas as well as grapevine chloroplastic DNA with TaqMan minor groove binder probes. Each set of designed primers and probes specifically detected the map gene of the FD and BN phytoplasmas, respectively and did not detect phytoplasmas from other phylogenetic groups. PCR efficiencies varied from 90 to 110 %. The PCR assay showed good intra-test and inter-test reproducibility. Triplex real-time PCR was compared to the conventional biplex nested-PCR method. The sensitivity of the real-time PCR, tested on several infected periwinkle and grapevine samples, was up to 5 and 100 times higher for the BN-P and the FD-P targets, respectively. Out of 109 grapevine samples analysed 10, which were negative with the nested PCR, turned to be FD-P positive with the real-time PCR. A decision scheme was set up according to the Ct values of the FD-P, BN-P and grapevine targets in order to assess the routine detection results

Análisis de registros de dispensación en antiinflamatorios no esteroideos dentro del programa D-Valor

Objetivo: Analizar y evaluar los datos obtenidos durante la dispensación de antiinflamatorios no esteroideos (AINE) dentro del programa D-Valor. Método: Se trabajó con un diseño de estudio multicéntrico, observacional y prospectivo de registros de datos de dispensación de medicamentos de grupos terapéuticos definidos. Resultados: En el 23% de las dispensaciones, el paciente utilizaba además otro medicamento susceptible de interacción. Más del 60% de los pacientes no conocía el uso adecuado del medicamento. El principio activo más dispensado fue ibuprofeno (38%). Conclusiones: Los AINE están entre los medicamentos más utilizados, pero debe mejorarse el conocimiento sobre su utilización. El diálogo con el paciente en el momento de la dispensación de AINE facilita la detección de situaciones de riesgo relacionadas

Análisis de registros de dispensación en antiinflamatorios no esteroideos dentro del programa D-Valor

Objetivo: Analizar y evaluar los datos obtenidos durante la dispensación de antiinflamatorios no esteroideos (AINE) dentro del programa D-Valor. Método: Se trabajó con un diseño de estudio multicéntrico, observacional y prospectivo de registros de datos de dispensación de medicamentos de grupos terapéuticos definidos. Resultados: En el 23% de las dispensaciones, el paciente utilizaba además otro medicamento susceptible de interacción. Más del 60% de los pacientes no conocía el uso adecuado del medicamento. El principio activo más dispensado fue ibuprofeno (38%). Conclusiones: Los AINE están entre los medicamentos más utilizados, pero debe mejorarse el conocimiento sobre su utilización. El diálogo con el paciente en el momento de la dispensación de AINE facilita la detección de situaciones de riesgo relacionadas

Programa D-VALOR, análisis de registros de dispensación. Benzodiazepinas

Objetivo: El objetivo del presente trabajo dentro del programa D-VALOR consiste en la evaluación de las dispensaciones de benzodiazepina (BZD), así como su registro, y comprobar si el paciente tiene conocimiento acerca de los medicamentos que recibe, si los usa de forma correcta y si observa las precauciones necesarias que requiere el grupo terapéutico. Método: Se trata de un estudio multicéntrico, observacional y prospectivo de registros de dispensaciones. Se registraron 47.829 dispensaciones. Resultados: En todas las edades la mujer usa más este tipo de medicación que el hombre. El 82,10% de los tratamientos son de continuación; un 51% de los pacientes desconocen la duración del tratamiento en los de inicio, y un 44% en los de continuación. Esto es preocupante, pues los problemas que presentan los tratamientos con BZD y sus análogos (caídas, fracturas y efectos sobre la psicomotricidad) están relacionados con su uso prolongado. En cuanto al conocimiento de los pacientes sobre el medicamento, sólo un 54% tienen un conocimiento global del tratamiento en lo que se refiere a la posología, la pauta de uso y su duración. Un 23% de pacientes manifiestan no estar satisfechos con su tratamiento, de los cuales un 6% declaran estarlo parcialmente tras haber sufrido resultados negativos asociados a la medicación. Las BZD más demandadas fueron lorazepam (11.862 casos), alprazolam (9.131) y lormetazepam (6.339), y de entre sus análogos zolpidem fue el más solicitado (3.331). Conclusiones: Dada la falta de conocimientos del paciente, especialmente en lo que se refiere a la duración del tratamiento con BZD y las precauciones que lleva asociadas su administración, una correcta dispensación puede ser de gran ayuda al paciente para que el tratamiento farmacológico se lleve a cabo de forma segura y eficaz

Programa D-VALOR, análisis de registros de dispensación. Benzodiazepinas

Objetivo: El objetivo del presente trabajo dentro del programa D-VALOR consiste en la evaluación de las dispensaciones de benzodiazepina (BZD), así como su registro, y comprobar si el paciente tiene conocimiento acerca de los medicamentos que recibe, si los usa de forma correcta y si observa las precauciones necesarias que requiere el grupo terapéutico. Método: Se trata de un estudio multicéntrico, observacional y prospectivo de registros de dispensaciones. Se registraron 47.829 dispensaciones. Resultados: En todas las edades la mujer usa más este tipo de medicación que el hombre. El 82,10% de los tratamientos son de continuación; un 51% de los pacientes desconocen la duración del tratamiento en los de inicio, y un 44% en los de continuación. Esto es preocupante, pues los problemas que presentan los tratamientos con BZD y sus análogos (caídas, fracturas y efectos sobre la psicomotricidad) están relacionados con su uso prolongado. En cuanto al conocimiento de los pacientes sobre el medicamento, sólo un 54% tienen un conocimiento global del tratamiento en lo que se refiere a la posología, la pauta de uso y su duración. Un 23% de pacientes manifiestan no estar satisfechos con su tratamiento, de los cuales un 6% declaran estarlo parcialmente tras haber sufrido resultados negativos asociados a la medicación. Las BZD más demandadas fueron lorazepam (11.862 casos), alprazolam (9.131) y lormetazepam (6.339), y de entre sus análogos zolpidem fue el más solicitado (3.331). Conclusiones: Dada la falta de conocimientos del paciente, especialmente en lo que se refiere a la duración del tratamiento con BZD y las precauciones que lleva asociadas su administración, una correcta dispensación puede ser de gran ayuda al paciente para que el tratamiento farmacológico se lleve a cabo de forma segura y eficaz

Embedding expert opinion in a Bayesian network model to predict wheat yield from spring-summer weather

Wheat yield is highly dependent on weather, Therefore, predicting its effect can improve crop management decisions. Various modelling approaches have been used to predict wheat yield including process-based modelling, statistical models, and machine learning. However, these models typically require a large data set for training or fitting. They often also have a limited ability in capturing the effects of small-scale variability, time, and duration of extreme weather events. Here, we develop a Bayesian Network (BN) model by interviewing experts including farmers, embedding their knowledge from years of experience within a quantitative model. These experts identified the period from the beginning of anthesis to the end of grain filling stage as a critical period and maximum temperature, mean temperature and precipitation as key weather variables for inclusion in the BN. To keep the time input from experts manageable, the conditional probability table for the BN was constructed based on their anticipated impact on the mean yield of different weather conditions. The model predicted the yield in the same or neighbouring class (very low, low, medium, high and very high) as the reported yield with low error rate ranging from 9.1 to 15.2% and, when used to estimate the median predicted yield, R2 ranging from 41 to 52%. Interestingly, model successfully predicted the yield in years 1998, 2007, 2012 and 2020 which had the most extreme weather events. Additionally, the more recent data, from 2012 to 2022 was predicted more accurately, especially 2022 season which was not sown yet when eliciting information and recently added to the testing data. Little difference was observed between the predictions made using model parameters based only the opinion of the farm manager from which the test data originated, and the predictions made using the average opinion of a group of 9 experts. The inclusion of causal variables in the model also provided insight into the experts’ rationale, allowing unexpected results to be explored. This methodology provides a means to rapidly develop a successful predictive model of wheat yield with limited (or no) data using expert understanding. This model could be tuned and updated with data as it becomes available

The broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential of [Mn(CO)4(S2CNMe(CH2CO2H))], a water-soluble CO-releasing molecule (CORM-401): intracellular accumulation, transcriptomic and statistical analyses, and membrane Polarization

Aims: Carbon monoxide (CO)-releasing molecules (CORMs) are candidates for animal and antimicrobial therapeutics. We aimed to probe the antimicrobial potential of a novel manganese CORM. Results: [Mn(CO)4S2CNMe(CH2CO2H)], CORM-401, inhibits growth of Escherichia coli and several antibiotic-resistant clinical pathogens. CORM-401 releases CO that binds oxidases in vivo, but is an ineffective respiratory inhibitor. Extensive CORM accumulation (assayed as intracellular manganese) accompanies antimicrobial activity. CORM-401 stimulates respiration, polarizes the cytoplasmic membrane in an uncoupler-like manner, and elicits loss of intracellular potassium and zinc. Transcriptomics and mathematical modeling of transcription factor activities reveal a multifaceted response characterized by elevated expression of genes encoding potassium uptake, efflux pumps, and envelope stress responses. Regulators implicated in stress responses (CpxR), respiration (Arc, Fnr), methionine biosynthesis (MetJ), and iron homeostasis (Fur) are significantly disturbed. Although CORM-401 reduces bacterial growth in combination with cefotaxime and trimethoprim, fractional inhibition studies reveal no interaction. Innovation: We present the most detailed microbiological analysis yet of a CORM that is not a ruthenium carbonyl. We demonstrate CO-independent striking effects on the bacterial membrane and global transcriptomic responses. Conclusions: CORM-401, contrary to our expectations of a CO delivery vehicle, does not inhibit respiration. It accumulates in the cytoplasm, acts like an uncoupler in disrupting cytoplasmic ion balance, and triggers multiple effects, including osmotic stress and futile respiration

Evolution of the hip fracture population: time to consider the future? A retrospective observational analysis

OBJECTIVE: To examine how the population with fractured neck of femur has changed over the last decade and determine whether they have evolved to become a more physically and socially dependent cohort. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected Standardised Audit of Hip Fractures of Europe data entered on to an institutional hip fracture registry. PARTICIPANTS: 10 044 consecutive hip fracture admissions (2000–2012). SETTING: A major trauma centre in the UK. RESULTS: There was a generalised increase in the number of admissions between 2000 (n=740) and 2012 (n=810). This increase was non-linear and best described by a quadratic curve. Assuming no change in the prevalence of hip fracture over the next 20 years, our hospital is projected to treat 871 cases in 2020 and 925 in 2030. This represents an approximate year-on-year increase of just over 1%. There was an increase in the proportion of male admissions over the study period (2000: 174 of 740 admissions (23.5%); 2012: 249 of 810 admissions (30.7%)). This mirrored national census changes within the geographical area during the same period. During the study period there were significant increases in the numbers of patients admitted from their own home, the proportion of patients requiring assistance to mobilise, and the proportion of patients requiring help with basic activities of daily living (all p<0.001). There was also a twofold to fourfold increase in the proportion of patients admitted with a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, renal disease, diabetes and polypharmacy (use of >4 prescribed medications; all p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The expanding hip fracture population has increasingly complex medical, social and rehabilitation care needs. This needs to be recognised so that appropriate healthcare strategies and service planning can be implemented. This epidemiological analysis allows projections of future service need in terms of patient numbers and dependency

When a Palearctic bacterium meets a Nearctic insect vector: Genetic and ecological insights into the emergence of the grapevine Flavescence dorée epidemics in Europe

Flavescence dorée (FD) is a European quarantine grapevine disease transmitted by the Deltocephalinae leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus. Whereas this vector had been introduced from North America, the possible European origin of FD phytoplasma needed to be challenged and correlated with ecological and genetic drivers of FD emergence. For that purpose, a survey of genetic diversity of these phytoplasmas in grapevines, S. titanus, black alders, alder leafhoppers and clematis were conducted in five European countries. Out of 132 map genotypes, only 11 were associated to FD outbreaks, three were detected in clematis, whereas 127 were detected in alder trees, alder leafhoppers or in grapevines out of FD outbreaks. Most of the alder trees were found infected, including 8% with FD genotypes M6, M38 and M50, also present in alders neighboring FD-free vineyards and vineyard-free areas. The Macropsinae Oncopsis alni could transmit genotypes unable to achieve transmission by S. titanus, while the Deltocephalinae Allygus spp. and Orientus ishidae transmitted M38 and M50 that proved to be compatible with S. titanus. Variability of vmpA and vmpB adhesin-like genes clearly discriminated 3 genetic clusters. Cluster Vmp-I grouped genotypes only transmitted by O. alni, while clusters Vmp-II and -III grouped genotypes transmitted by Deltocephalinae leafhoppers. Interestingly, adhesin repeated domains evolved independently in cluster Vmp-I, whereas in clusters Vmp-II and-III showed recent duplications. Latex beads coated with various ratio of VmpA of clusters II and I, showed that cluster II VmpA promoted enhanced adhesion to the Deltocephalinae Euscelidius variegatus epithelial cells and were better retained in both E. variegatus and S. titanus midguts. Our data demonstrate that most FD phytoplasmas are endemic to European alders. Their emergence as grapevine epidemic pathogens appeared restricted to some genetic variants pre-existing in alders, whose compatibility to S. titanus correlates with different vmp gene sequences and VmpA binding properties