A study of Sclerospora Graminicola (Sacc.) Schroet. on Setaria Viridis (L.) Beauv. and Zea Mays L.

Conidial sporulation of Sclerospora graminicola has been observed in the day time occurring naturally in the field and under artificial conditions in the laboratory. The period required for the development of mature conidia lies between 4 hours 35 minutes and 111/2 hours. The conditions which seem necessary for the production of conidia, whether during the day or night, are: a completely saturated atmosphere, turgid host leaves, a slight moisture film on the surface of the leaves and a temperature ranging between 8° and 27 °C. When flooded into a drop of water immediately after being discharged, conidia were found to germinate after 60 minutes. The best germination was obtained at 15°C., but the optimum was not definitely determined. Normal conidia measure 14-23 x 11-17µ. Sometimes larger conidia are produced (43 x 18.6µ) . The average length of conidiophores of Sclerospora graminicola was found to be 267.8µ while the individuals measured ranged from 214.5 to 375.3µ, a variation of 160.8µ. Spores were found to be forcefully discharged from the conidiophores thru a distance of 2.5 mm. vertically and 1.89 mm. horizontally. Setaria viridis, S. italica, Zea mays (May\u27s Golden popcorn) and Euchlaena mexicana were infected with Sclerospora graminicola when exposed to the conidia of the mildew. Oospores of Sclerospora graminicola were found to overwinter naturally in field soil under Iowa conditions. In one test, oospores which overwintered outdoors gave nearly twice as much infection on Setaria viridis and Zea Mays (Japanese Hulless popcorn) as did the oospores which were kept in the laboratory, Plants from five genera of Gramineae were found to be susceptible hosts to Sclerospora graminicola. These are: Euchlaena, Setaria, Holcus, Saccharum and Zea. Setaria viridis was found to be the most susceptible of all hosts and popcorn more susceptible than sweet corn and dent corn. Six days were found to be the usual period of incubation between the time oospores were placed on the seeds and that when conidial fruiting appeared on the leaves. Infection by oospores was obtained from the time the testa was broken until the emergence of the plumule above ground. Relative susceptibility of seedlings decreases with age. The processes connected with infection are more greatly favored by temperatures of 15° to 16°C. than by temperatures of 24° to 30°C. The germinating oospore is evidently unable to penetrate older leaf tissue. The viability of oospores was little affected by soaking in 2 percent copper sulfate solutions for 10 minutes, while similar treatment in 1 percent formaldehyde for 5 minutes proved fatal. The killing action of mercuric chloride 1-1000 was not so great as that of formaldehyde. Freshly collected oospores which were held in a dry condition at 77°C. for 1 hour later gave 52 percent infection on Setaria viridis, while wet spores lost their viability to a marked degree when held at 50°C. for a similar period. Sclerospora graminicola was studied in the field during the summers of 1925, 1926 and 1927. Infection was obtained on corn and teosinte planted in plots which had been artificially infested with oospores. Spontaneous conidial sporulation was found to be comparatively rare on corn in the field altho it was observed in 1926 and 1927 on young seedlings during periods of high humidity and cool temperatures. Infected plants were either killed outright or became stunted and unproductive. A few plants apparently outgrew the attack. In Iowa, Sclerospora graminicola has been observed only twice occurring naturally on corn in the field. Oospores of Sclerospora graminicola which had been held 30 months under dry conditions in the laboratory were found to be viable. Presoaking of oospores does not seem to affect the percentage of infection. Soil is not necessary as a medium for the germination of oospores

Varespladib and cardiovascular events in patients with an acute coronary syndrome: the VISTA-16 randomized clinical trial

IMPORTANCE: Secretory phospholipase A2(sPLA2) generates bioactive phospholipid products implicated in atherosclerosis. The sPLA2inhibitor varespladib has favorable effects on lipid and inflammatory markers; however, its effect on cardiovascular outcomes is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of sPLA2inhibition with varespladib on cardiovascular outcomes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A double-blind, randomized, multicenter trial at 362 academic and community hospitals in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India, and North America of 5145 patients randomized within 96 hours of presentation of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) to either varespladib (n = 2572) or placebo (n = 2573) with enrollment between June 1, 2010, and March 7, 2012 (study termination on March 9, 2012). INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomized to receive varespladib (500 mg) or placebo daily for 16 weeks, in addition to atorvastatin and other established therapies. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary efficacy measurewas a composite of cardiovascular mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), nonfatal stroke, or unstable angina with evidence of ischemia requiring hospitalization at 16 weeks. Six-month survival status was also evaluated. RESULTS: At a prespecified interim analysis, including 212 primary end point events, the independent data and safety monitoring board recommended termination of the trial for futility and possible harm. The primary end point occurred in 136 patients (6.1%) treated with varespladib compared with 109 patients (5.1%) treated with placebo (hazard ratio [HR], 1.25; 95%CI, 0.97-1.61; log-rank P = .08). Varespladib was associated with a greater risk of MI (78 [3.4%] vs 47 [2.2%]; HR, 1.66; 95%CI, 1.16-2.39; log-rank P = .005). The composite secondary end point of cardiovascular mortality, MI, and stroke was observed in 107 patients (4.6%) in the varespladib group and 79 patients (3.8%) in the placebo group (HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.02-1.82; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In patients with recent ACS, varespladib did not reduce the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events and significantly increased the risk of MI. The sPLA2inhibition with varespladib may be harmful and is not a useful strategy to reduce adverse cardiovascular outcomes after ACS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01130246. Copyright 2014 American Medical Association. All rights reserved

A study of Sclerospora Graminicola (Sacc.) Schroet. on Setaria Viridis (L.) Beauv. and Zea Mays L.

Conidial sporulation of Sclerospora graminicola has been observed in the day time occurring naturally in the field and under artificial conditions in the laboratory. The period required for the development of mature conidia lies between 4 hours 35 minutes and 111/2 hours. The conditions which seem necessary for the production of conidia, whether during the day or night, are: a completely saturated atmosphere, turgid host leaves, a slight moisture film on the surface of the leaves and a temperature ranging between 8° and 27 °C. When flooded into a drop of water immediately after being discharged, conidia were found to germinate after 60 minutes. The best germination was obtained at 15°C., but the optimum was not definitely determined. Normal conidia measure 14-23 x 11-17µ. Sometimes larger conidia are produced (43 x 18.6µ) . The average length of conidiophores of Sclerospora graminicola was found to be 267.8µ while the individuals measured ranged from 214.5 to 375.3µ, a variation of 160.8µ. Spores were found to be forcefully discharged from the conidiophores thru a distance of 2.5 mm. vertically and 1.89 mm. horizontally. Setaria viridis, S. italica, Zea mays (May's Golden popcorn) and Euchlaena mexicana were infected with Sclerospora graminicola when exposed to the conidia of the mildew. Oospores of Sclerospora graminicola were found to overwinter naturally in field soil under Iowa conditions. In one test, oospores which overwintered outdoors gave nearly twice as much infection on Setaria viridis and Zea Mays (Japanese Hulless popcorn) as did the oospores which were kept in the laboratory, Plants from five genera of Gramineae were found to be susceptible hosts to Sclerospora graminicola. These are: Euchlaena, Setaria, Holcus, Saccharum and Zea. Setaria viridis was found to be the most susceptible of all hosts and popcorn more susceptible than sweet corn and dent corn. Six days were found to be the usual period of incubation between the time oospores were placed on the seeds and that when conidial fruiting appeared on the leaves. Infection by oospores was obtained from the time the testa was broken until the emergence of the plumule above ground. Relative susceptibility of seedlings decreases with age. The processes connected with infection are more greatly favored by temperatures of 15° to 16°C. than by temperatures of 24° to 30°C. The germinating oospore is evidently unable to penetrate older leaf tissue. The viability of oospores was little affected by soaking in 2 percent copper sulfate solutions for 10 minutes, while similar treatment in 1 percent formaldehyde for 5 minutes proved fatal. The killing action of mercuric chloride 1-1000 was not so great as that of formaldehyde. Freshly collected oospores which were held in a dry condition at 77°C. for 1 hour later gave 52 percent infection on Setaria viridis, while wet spores lost their viability to a marked degree when held at 50°C. for a similar period. Sclerospora graminicola was studied in the field during the summers of 1925, 1926 and 1927. Infection was obtained on corn and teosinte planted in plots which had been artificially infested with oospores. Spontaneous conidial sporulation was found to be comparatively rare on corn in the field altho it was observed in 1926 and 1927 on young seedlings during periods of high humidity and cool temperatures. Infected plants were either killed outright or became stunted and unproductive. A few plants apparently outgrew the attack. In Iowa, Sclerospora graminicola has been observed only twice occurring naturally on corn in the field. Oospores of Sclerospora graminicola which had been held 30 months under dry conditions in the laboratory were found to be viable. Presoaking of oospores does not seem to affect the percentage of infection. Soil is not necessary as a medium for the germination of oospores.</p

Agricultural Research Bulletins Nos. 102–113

Volume 8, Bulletins 102-113. (102) Some Statistical Characterizations of the Hog Market; (103) Correlation of Physical Measurements with Egg Production in White Plymouth Rock Hens; (104) Some Effects of Method of Application of Fertilizers on corn and Soils; (105) Genetics of Plumage Color in Poultry; (106) Studies on Starters; (107) Influence on Temperatures and Certain Other Factors Upon the Percentage of Fat in Milk; (108) Time Factor in Relation to the Acquisition of Food by the Honeybee; (109) Number of Microorganisms in Carrington Loam as Influenced by Different Soil Treatments; (110) Studies on Nitrification and Its Relation to Crop Production on Carrington Loam Under Different Treatment; (111) Study of Sclerospora Graminicola (Sacc.) Schroet. on Setaria Viridis (L.) Beauv. and Zea Mays L.; (112) Infection Studies with Watermelon Wilt Caused by Fusarium niveum EFS; (113) Physiological Studies on the Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria of the Genus Rhizobium</p

Ezetimibe added to statin therapy after acute coronary syndromes

BACKGROUND: Statin therapy reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and the risk of cardiovascular events, but whether the addition of ezetimibe, a nonstatin drug that reduces intestinal cholesterol absorption, can reduce the rate of cardiovascular events further is not known. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, randomized trial involving 18,144 patients who had been hospitalized for an acute coronary syndrome within the preceding 10 days and had LDL cholesterol levels of 50 to 100 mg per deciliter (1.3 to 2.6 mmol per liter) if they were receiving lipid-lowering therapy or 50 to 125 mg per deciliter (1.3 to 3.2 mmol per liter) if they were not receiving lipid-lowering therapy. The combination of simvastatin (40 mg) and ezetimibe (10 mg) (simvastatin-ezetimibe) was compared with simvastatin (40 mg) and placebo (simvastatin monotherapy). The primary end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina requiring rehospitalization, coronary revascularization ( 6530 days after randomization), or nonfatal stroke. The median follow-up was 6 years. RESULTS: The median time-weighted average LDL cholesterol level during the study was 53.7 mg per deciliter (1.4 mmol per liter) in the simvastatin-ezetimibe group, as compared with 69.5 mg per deciliter (1.8 mmol per liter) in the simvastatin-monotherapy group (P<0.001). The Kaplan-Meier event rate for the primary end point at 7 years was 32.7% in the simvastatin-ezetimibe group, as compared with 34.7% in the simvastatin-monotherapy group (absolute risk difference, 2.0 percentage points; hazard ratio, 0.936; 95% confidence interval, 0.89 to 0.99; P = 0.016). Rates of pre-specified muscle, gallbladder, and hepatic adverse effects and cancer were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: When added to statin therapy, ezetimibe resulted in incremental lowering of LDL cholesterol levels and improved cardiovascular outcomes. Moreover, lowering LDL cholesterol to levels below previous targets provided additional benefit