Voice parameters in children with cochlear implants: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT: Introduction: An intact auditory system is essential for the development and maintenance of voice quality and speech prosody. On the contrary hearing loss affects the adjustments and appropriate use of organs involved in speech and voice production. Spectro-acoustic voice parameters have been valuated in CI users, and the authors of previous systematic reviews on the topic concluded that preliminary Fundamental Frequency seemed the most reliable parameter to evaluate voice alterations in adult CI users. The main aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to clarify the vocal parameters and prosodic alterations of speech in pediatric CI users. Materials and methods: The protocol of the systematic review was registered on the PROSPERO database International prospective register of systematic reviews. We conducted a search of the English literature published in the period between January 1st 2005 and April 1st 2022 on the Pubmed and Scopus databases. A meta-analysis was conducted to compare the values of voice acoustic parameters in CI users and nonhearing-impaired controls. The analysis was conducted using the standardized mean difference as the outcome measure. A random-effects model was fitted to the data. Results: A total of 1334 articles were initially evaluated using title and abstract screening. After applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, 20 articles were considered suitable for this review. The age of the cases ranged between 25 to 132 months at examination. The most studied parameters were F0, Jitter, Shimmer and Harmoni Noise Ratio (HNR); other parameters were seldom reported. A total of 11 studies were included in the meta-analysis of F0, with the majority of estimates being positive (75%); the estimated average standardized mean difference based on the random-effects model was 0.3033 (95% CI: 0.0605 to 0.5462; p = 0.0144). For Jitter (0.2229; 95% CI: -0.1862 to 0.7986; p = 0.2229) and shimmer (0.2540; 95% CI: -0.1404 to 0.6485; p = 0.2068) there was a trend toward positive values without reaching statistical significance. Discussion and conclusions: This meta-analysis confirmed that higher F0 values have been observed in the pediatric population of CI users compared to age-matched normal hearing volunteers, whereas the parameters of voice noise were not significantly different between cases and controls. Prosodic aspects of language need further investigations. In longitudinal contexts, prolonged auditory experience with CI has brought voice parameters closer to the norm. Following the available evidence, we stress the utility of inclusion of vocal acoustic analysis in the clinical evaluation and follow-up of CI patients to optimize the rehabilitation process of pediatric patients with hearing loss

Transgene pyramiding in wheat: combination of deoxynivalenol detoxification with inhibition of cell wall degrading enzymes to contrast Fusarium Head Blight and Crown Rot

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) and Crown Rot (FCR) are major diseases of wheat crops, causing extensive damages and mycotoxin contamination. In this work, we investigated the possibility to improve resistance to either or both diseases by combining different resistance mechanisms. To this aim, we stacked in the same wheat genotype transgenes controlling the DON-to-D3G conversion by specific UDP-glucosyltransferases (UGT) and the inhibition of cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs) by glycosidase inhibitors. We obtained: i) a durum wheat UGT+PMEI double-transgenic line constitutively expressing the HvUGT13248 and AcPMEI genes, coding for a barley UGT and a kiwi pectin methylesterase inhibitor, respectively; ii) a bread wheat UGT+PGIP line, expressing in floral tissues the HvUGT13248 gene and constitutively the PvPGIP2 gene, coding for a bean polygalacturonase inhibiting protein. We observed that both UGT+PMEI and UGT+PGIP plants exhibited increased resistance against Fusarium graminearum in FHB, further reducing by 10–20 % FHB symptoms as compared to the lines carrying the individual transgenes, and of up to 50 % as compared to wild-type plants. On the other hand, double-transgenic UGT+PMEI seedlings exhibited similar FCR symptoms as the UGT single transgenic line after infection with F. culmorum, indicating no contribution of the PMEI transgene to FCR resistance. This result is also supported by the inability of AcPMEI or PvPGIP2, constitutively expressed in durum wheat transgenic lines, to counteract F. graminearum in FCR. We also verified that F. graminearum produces PG and PME activity on infected wheat crown. We conclude that CWDEs inhibition combined with UGT-based DON detoxification contribute in an additive manner to limiting F. graminearum in FHB. Conversely, UGT-based DON detoxification is the only mechanism contributing to resistance observed against FCR. Indeed, the reinforcement of pectin does not enhance resistance against FCR.5n

Peptaibol analogs as new effective fungicides against Botrytis cinerea

In the last decades the search for new effective and sustainable fungicides has gained much importance in the European political agenda. The well-known biocontrol agent Trichoderma spp. produces short hydrophobic non-ribosomal peptides, named peptaibols, with antibiotic properties given by their ability to permeabilize lipid bilayers such as the cell membrane. Specifically, the peptaibol trichogin produced by T. longibrachiatum, was used as a model to synthesize several water-soluble analogs (De Zotti et al., 2020 International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21, 7521). These analogs present one or more substitutions of the glycine residues, which improve their water-solubility while maintaining their thermal and chemical stability. The aim of this study was to assess the fungicidal activity of trichogin analogs against Botrytis cinerea. With an in vitro screening, four peptides were identified as effective in inhibiting conidia germination at 15 µM concentration and the most effective peptide displayed a Minimal Inhibitory Concentration of 1-5 µM. A microscopy analysis confirmed conidia cell death at 15 µM. This peptide was used in further experiments to assess its efficacy in controlling B. cinerea infection on different plant tissues. On bean leaves, this peptide determined a significant reduction of disease symptoms (higher than 95%) at 50 µM, being effective also at 15 µM (75% symptom reduction). Treatment of grapevine leaves and berries at 50 µM showed a significant reduction of disease symptoms of about 70% and 45%, respectively. Several analogs of this peptide, differing in sequence length or C-terminus to decrease synthesis costs, have also been produced and tested. Both changes did not affect peptide efficacy either in vitro and against infection on bean leaves. These results show the potential given by small structural modifications of natural secondary metabolites. Ongoing trials are now focusing on the combination of peptides and other natural antimicrobial compounds, with the aim to identify any synergistic effect against B. cinerea. Synergy would allow to reduce the fungicide dosage with many benefits, including the reduction of treatment cost, a better toxicity profile and a minimized probability of resistance development

Reproductive biology of Ophelia barquii (Annelida, Opheliidae) along the Salento Peninsula (Mediterranean Sea, South Italy)

This study investigates two populations of a polychaete identified as Ophelia barquii Fauvel, 1927, collected in two beaches from the Adriatic (Alimini beach) and Ionian (Gallipoli beach) coasts from the Salento Peninsula. Each population was analyzed monthly from April 2017 to March 2018. In both beaches, populational density decreased from April to August with a complete absence of worms from August to the following January. We hypothesize that this trend results from horizontal migration of individuals for reproductive purposes. Sexual maturation was asynchronous between the two populations, with individuals becoming ripe earlier in Alimini than in Gallipoli. Significant differences in body size were recorded between the two populations, with specimens larger in Gallipoli than in Alimini, suggesting that they could belong to different species. However, lifecycle studies performed under laboratory conditions showed that both populations follow a similar developmental path and can cross-fertilize. The larval development featured a very short period of pelagic life, the shortest known so far for any species of Ophelia

A Phytocomplex Obtained from Salvia officinalis by Cell Culture Technology Effectively Controls the Grapevine Downy Mildew Pathogen Plasmopara viticola

The negative impact of using conventional fungicides in plant disease protection has increased the interest in safer alternatives such as plant secondary metabolites, generally having a better toxicological profile. However, cultivation conditions and plant material strongly affect the quality and quantity of secondary metabolites obtained from field grown plants, limiting the standardization needed for industrial production. Plant cell culture technology can provide highly homogeneous biomasses with specific chemical characteristics. A phytocomplex with high rosmarinic acid content (10.12% w/w) was obtained from a selected cell line of Salvia officinalis and was tested against the grapevine downy mildew pathogen, Plasmopara viticola. Grapevine leaf discs were sprayed with the phytocomplex at 5 g/L and then inoculated with P. viticola sporangia. Sporulation level on each disc was assessed after 7 days with an image processing software. The phytocomplex reduced by 95% the sporulation level compared to the control and was also more effective than rosmarinic acid alone, used at the same concentration found in the phytocomplex. Persistence of the phytocomplex was also assessed: when applied 5 days before inoculation, it reduced by 90% the sporulation level compared to the control. These results highlight the possibility to take advantage of cell culture techniques to produce safer pesticides with high quality standards

A phytocomplex obtained from a Salvia officinalis cell culture effectively controls the grapevine downy mildew pathogen Plasmopara viticola

The impact of conventional fungicides on environmental and human health has increased the interest in safer alternatives such as plant secondary metabolites, generally having a better toxicological profile. However, plant genetics, agronomic practices, climatic conditions and extraction methods strongly affect the quality and quantity of secondary metabolites obtained from field grown plants. These factors cause limitations to the standardization needed for industrial production. Plant cell culture technology can meet this need: totipotent cells grown in controlled conditions can provide a highly homogeneous biomass with specific chemical characteristics. A phytocomplex, with standardized rosmarinic acid content, was obtained from a selected cell line of Salvia officinalis. The Salvia officinalis phytocomplex (SOP) was tested against the grapevine downy mildew pathogen, Plasmopara viticola. Grapevine leaf disks were sprayed with SOP and with fresh P. viticola sporangia. Sporulation level on each disk was assessed after 7 days with an image processing software. SOP at 5 g/l reduced by 95% the sporulation level compared to the control treatment. SOP was significantly more effective than rosmarinic acid alone, tested at the concentration found in SOP. Persistence of the phytocomplex was also assessed: leaves were sprayed with SOP and, after a few days, they were detached and inoculated. SOP applied 5 days before inoculation reduced by 90% the sporulation level compared to the control. These results highlight the possibility for plant protection industry to take advantage of cell culture techniques to produce safer pesticides with high quality standards