A model to determine quantitative effects of light and temperature on organic tomato seedlings

The present study was conducted to determine the quantitative effects of light and temperature on growth and development of organic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedlings in a glasshouse under ecological conditions of Samsun Province of Turkey. Seedlings were grown in four different periods (seeds sown on 29 September for 1st period; 2 December for 2nd period; 18 March for 3rd period and 6 July for 4th period). In order to create different light intensities, shading material having a shading capacity of 50% in 1, 2 and 3 layers was used in each period after seeding. The effects of light and temperature on plant growth and development (leaf area, stomatal conductivity, leaf chlorophyll content, plant height, stem diameter and total plant vegetative dry weight) and the number of days from sowing to plantation of seedlings, were investigated. Obtained results revealed decreasing number of days from sowing to seedling plantation with increasing light intensities. Finally, the number of days from sowing to seedling plantation to be used in organic tomato seedling production was modeled based on the variations in temperature and light intensity (r2 = 0.92)

The impact of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on thin endometrium of an animal model with rats

Purpose: To evaluate whether G-CSF improves the endometrial thickness of thin endometrium by influencing proliferative, angiogenic and apoptotic factors, an experimental rat model was conducted using 24 female adult rats with either thin or healthy endometrium that each was further divided into G-CSF or saline injection groups with six rats. Materials and methods: After forming of the thin endometrium by uterine injection of 0.2 ml 96% ethyl alcohol to the rats, five days of subcutaneous injections of 40 μg/kg G-CSF or saline were given. Endometrial thickness, immunohistochemically expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGF-R2), proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and fibronectin apoptosis with TUNEL method were compared in specimens among four groups of post-model rats. Results: Endometrial thickness was significantly improved in thin but not in normal endometrium group with GCSF when compared to saline injection. Stromal and glandular epithelial expression of PCNA and pericapillary VEGF-R2 was significantly increased, and apoptosis was significantly decreased with G-CSF. Although fibronectin was also increased with G-CSF in the thin endometrium, the difference was non-significant. In further, G-CSF decreased apoptotic cells and increased expression of PCNA when compared to saline injection in normal endometrium. Conclusions: G-CSF improves endometrial thickness, proliferation, angiogenesis and DNA fragmentation in thin endometrium. © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

[Isolation of Scedosporium apiospermum (teleomorph: Pseudallescheria apiosperma) from an acute myeloid leukemia patient].

Scedosporium apiospermum is an emerging opportunistic pathogen that may lead to life-threatening infections especially in immunosuppressive individuals. In this report, S.apiospermum infection in a 62 year old male patient with acute myeloid leukemia was presented. During remission-induction chemotherapy, piperacillin-tazobactam therapy was started for febrile neutropenia. Since fever had continued, treatment was switched to imipenem and also amphotericin B deoxycholate was added to the treatment protocol. Because of allergic reaction to amphotericin B, caspofungin was started at the fifth day of neutropenic fever. Following imaging studies with high resolution computerized thorasic tomography, antifungal therapy was changed to voriconazole due to findings suggestive of invasive aspergillosis. Since galactomannan antigen was found negative at the first day of voriconazole therapy, bronchoalveolar lavage material from apical segment of the left lower lobe was cultured onto various microbiologic media. S.apiospermum (Teleomorph: Pseudallescheria apiosperma) was isolated on the fourth day of cultivation. According to CLSI M38-A2 microdilution procedure, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of voriconazole, caspofungin, amphotericin B and posaconazole were found as 0.06, 2, 8 and 4 µg/ml, respectively. Since neutropenia was resolved, the patient was discharged with continued voriconazole therapy. It was concluded that antifungal susceptibility tests should be performed for Scedosporium species and the results should be compared to the clinical response. The determination of MIC breakpoints may provide useful information for the recommendation and use of optimal choices for the treatment of Scedosporium infections