Evaluation of Different Concentrations of Nitrogen for Tomato Seedling Production (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

This study was aimed at evaluating the different concentrations of nitrogen for tomato seedling production (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), hybrid Loreto. Five concentrations of nitrogen were analyzed: 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 mEq / L, using as a basis the Steiner nutrient solution. A pilot randomized block design was used with six replications and five treatments. Thirty-five days after sowing, the following variables were analyzed: seedling height, stem diameter, fresh stem weight, fresh leaf weight, leaf area, dry steam weight, dry leaf weight, dry root weight and total nitrogen content. An ANOVA analysis (p <0.05) with post-hoc Tukey test was performed to compare each treatment variables. The results showed that the increase in the concentration of nitrogen has a positive effect on organ growth. The treatment with the highest values in the morphological variables was 16 mEq / L, which shortened the production time of seedlings ready for transplant

Evaluation of Different Concentrations of Nitrogen for Tomato Seedling Production (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

This study was aimed at evaluating the different concentrations of nitrogen for tomato seedling production (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), hybrid Loreto. Five concentrations of nitrogen were analyzed: 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 mEq / L, using as a basis the Steiner nutrient solution. A pilot randomized block design was used with six replications and five treatments. Thirty-five days after sowing, the following variables were analyzed: seedling height, stem diameter, fresh stem weight, fresh leaf weight, leaf area, dry steam weight, dry leaf weight, dry root weight and total nitrogen content. An ANOVA analysis (p <0.05) with post-hoc Tukey test was performed to compare each treatment variables. The results showed that the increase in the concentration of nitrogen has a positive effect on organ growth. The treatment with the highest values in the morphological variables was 16 mEq / L, which shortened the production time of seedlings ready for transplant

Juvenile Glyptodont (Mammalia, Cingulata) from the Miocene of Patagonia, Argentina: Insights into mandibular and dental characters

The earliest complete glyptodonts (Glyptodontidae, Cingulata) found belong to the Propalaehoplophorinae from Santa Cruz Formation (late early Miocene, Burdigalian) in Patagonia, Argentina. Although several skulls and mandibles have been described from this formation, and assigned to five genera (Propalaehoplophorus Ameghino, Cochlops Ameghino, Asterostemma Ameghino, Eucinepeltus Ameghino, and Metopotoxus Ameghino), the fossil record and knowledge of juvenile specimens of glyptodonts are still poor. Here, we provide a detailed morphological description of a mandible of a juvenile propalaehoplophorinae glyptodont from the Santa Cruz Formation, using micro-computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy images. We compare the juvenile mandible with adult specimens and discuss the taxonomic assignment, the juvenile and adult mandibular and dental characters, and dental eruption and tooth wear.Fil: Gonzalez Ruiz, Laureano Raul. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagóica. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Esquel. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica; ArgentinaFil: Brandoni, Diego. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Zurita, Alfredo Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Green, Jeremy. University Of Kent; Reino UnidoFil: Novo, Nelson Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto Patagónico de Geología y Paleontología; ArgentinaFil: Tauber, Adan Alejo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Tejedor, Marcelo Fabian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto Patagónico de Geología y Paleontología; Argentin

Complement factor H binding of monomeric C-reactive protein downregulates proinflammatory activity and is impaired with at risk polymorphic CFH variants

Inflammation and immune-mediated processes are pivotal to the pathogenic progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Although plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) have been shown to be associated with an increased risk for AMD, the pathophysiological importance of the prototypical acute-phase reactant in the etiology of the disease is unknown, and data regarding the exact role of CRP in ocular inflammation are limited. In this study, we provide mechanistic insight into how CRP contributes to the development of AMD. In particular, we show that monomeric CRP (mCRP) but not the pentameric form (pCRP) upregulates IL-8 and CCL2 levels in retinal pigment epithelial cells. Further, we show that complement factor H (FH) binds mCRP to dampen its proinflammatory activity. FH from AMD patients carrying the “risk” His402 polymorphism displays impaired binding to mCRP, and therefore proinflammatory effects of mCRP remain unrestrained

Challenges in Diabetic Macular Edema Management: An Expert Consensus Report

Purpose: This paper aimed to present daily-practice recommendations for the management of diabetic macular edema (DME) patients based on available scientific evidence and the clinical experience of the consensus panel. Methods: A group of Spanish retina experts agreed to discuss different aspects related with the clinical management of DME patients. Results: Panel was mainly focused on therapeutic objectives in DME management; defini-tion terms; and role of biomarkers as prognostic and predictive factors to intravitreal treatment response. The panel recommends to start DME treatment as soon as possible in those eyes with a visual acuity less than 20/25 (always according to the retina unit capacity). Naive patient was defined, in a strict manner, as a patient who, up to that moment, had never received any treatment. A refractory DME patient may be defined as the one who did not achieve a complete resolution of the disease, regardless of the treatment administered. Different optical coherence tomography biomarkers, such as disorganization of the retinal inner layers, hyperreflective dots, and cysts, have been identified as prognostic factors. Conclusion: This document has sought to lay down a set of recommendations and to identify key issues that may be useful for the daily management of DME patients

Novel association of high C-reactive protein levels and A69S at risk alleles in wet age-related macular degeneration women

Purpose: To explore the relationship between plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, the main ARMS2 gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and gender in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Methods: Our study included 131 patients with wetAMD [age-related eye disease study (AREDS) category 4] and 153 control participants (AREDS category 1) from two Spanish retinal units. CRP levels were determined on blood samples by high-sensitivity ELISA assay. According to their CRP level, subjects were categorized into three well-established CRP categories: low (3.00 mg/L, H-CRP). Genomic DNA was extracted from oral swabs using QIAcube (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) and the A69S; rs10490924 of ARMS2 gene was genotyped by allelic discrimination with validated TaqMan assays (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression adjusted for age was used to analyze the genomic frequencies and to calculate odds ratio (OR) using SNPStats software. Results: Considering CRP risk categories, H-CRP group showed a significant [OR 4.0 (1.9-8.3)] association with wetAMD compared to L-CRP group. The risk genotypes of A69S (TT) SNPs showed an association with wetAMD risk [OR 14.0 (4.8-40.8)]. Interestingly, the gender stratification of the CRP categories showed a significant increase in CRP levels in wetAMD women compared with control women [OR 6.9 (2.2-22.3)] and with wetAMD men [OR 4.6 (1.3-16.9)]. In addition, the subgroup analysis of CRP within A69S genotype and gender showed a link in women between the A69S and CRP levels in the AMD group compared to controls [OR 4.2 (1.4-12.6)]. Conclusion: Our study shows, for the first time, that a different genetic association related with gender could contribute to AMD risk. As a consequence, the risk of female gender in the different CRP levels and A69S SNP frequencies could be taken into consideration to the established risk relationship of high levels of CRP and its association with risk A69S genotype

Predictors for functional and anatomic outcomes in macular edema secondary to non-infectious uveitis

Aims We aimed to investigate predictive factors for visual and anatomic outcomes in patients with macular edema secondary to non-infectious uveitis. Material and methods We conducted a multicenter, prospective, observational, 12-month follow-up study. Participants included in the study were adults with non-infectious uveitic macular edema (UME), defined as central subfoveal thickness (CST) of > 300 mu m as measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and fluid in the macula. Demographic, clinical and tomographic data was recorded at baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Foveal-centered SD-OCT exploration was set as the gold-standard determination of UME using a standard Macular Cube 512x128 A-scan, within a 6 x 6 mm(2) area, and the Enhanced High Definition Single-Line Raster. To assess favorable prognosis, the main outcomes analyzed were the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the CST. Favorable prognosis was defined as sustained improvement of BCVA (2 lines of gain of the Snellen scale) and CST (decrease of 20% of the initial value or < 300 mu m) within a 12 month period. Results Fifty-six eyes were analyzed. The number of eyes with sustained improvement in the CST was 48 (86.2%), against 23 (41.1%) eyes with sustained improvement in BCVA. Favorable prognosis, as defined above, was observed in 18 (32.1%) eyes. UME prognosis was negatively correlated with baseline foveal thickening, alteration in the vitreo-macular interface and cystoid macular edema. In contrast, bilaterally, systemic disease and the presence of anterior chamber cells were predictive of favorable prognosis. Conclusion Available treatment modalities in UME may avoid chronic UME and improve anatomic outcome. However, the proportion of functional amelioration observed during 12 months of follow-up is lower. Thicker CST, alteration in the vitreo-macular interface and cystoid macular edema may denote less favorable prognosis. Conversely, bilaterally, systemic disease and anterior chamber cells may be associated with favorable prognosis in UME.This work was supported by grants from: Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitivity, Carlos III Health Institute, cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund, identification number: PI13/02148, Principal Investigator: AA; http://www.eng.isciii.es/ISCIII/es/contenidos/fd-investigacion/financiacion.shtml.The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

C-reactive protein as a therapeutic target in age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a retinal degenerative disease, is the leading cause of central vision loss among the elderly population in developed countries and an increasing global burden. The major risk is aging, compounded by other environmental factors and association with genetic variants for risk of progression. Although the etiology of AMD is not yet clearly understood, several pathogenic pathways have been proposed, including dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The identification of AMD susceptibility genes encoding complement factors and the presence of complement and other inflammatory mediators in drusen, the hallmark deposits of AMD, support the concept that local inflammation and immune-mediated processes play a key role in AMD pathogenesis that may be accelerated through systemic immune activation. In this regard, increased levels of circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) have been associated with higher risk of AMD. Besides being a risk marker for AMD, CRP may also play a role in the progression of the disease as it has been identified in drusen, and we have recently found that its monomeric form (mCRP) induces blood retinal barrier disruption in vitro. In this review, we will address recent evidence that links CRP and AMD pathogenesis, which may open new therapeutic opportunities to prevent the progression of AMD

Melatonin Enhances Cisplatin and Radiation Cytotoxicity in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Stimulating Mitochondrial ROS Generation, Apoptosis, and Autophagy

Head and neck cancer is the sixth leading cancer by incidence worldwide. Unfortunately, drug resistance and relapse are the principal limitations of clinical oncology for many patients, and the failure of conventional treatments is an extremely demoralizing experience. It is therefore crucial to find new therapeutic targets and drugs to enhance the cytotoxic effects of conventional treatments without potentiating or offsetting the adverse effects. Melatonin has oncostatic effects, although the mechanisms involved and doses required remain unclear. The purpose of this study is to determine the precise underlying mitochondrial mechanisms of melatonin, which increase the cytotoxicity of oncological treatments, and also to propose new melatonin treatments in order to alleviate and reverse radio- and chemoresistant processes. We analyzed the effects of melatonin on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines (Cal-27 and SCC-9), which were treated with 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 1.5mM melatonin combined with 8 Gy irradiation or 10 μM cisplatin. Clonogenic and MTT assays, as well as autophagy and apoptosis, involving flow cytometry and western blot, were performed in order to determine the cytotoxic effects of the treatments. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by measuring mitochondrial respiration, mtDNA content (RT-PCR), and mitochondrial mass (NAO). ROS production, antioxidant enzyme activity, and GSH/GSSG levels were analyzed using a fluorometric method. We show that high concentrations of melatonin potentiate the cytotoxic effects of radiotherapy and CDDP in HNSCC, which are associated with increased mitochondrial function in these cells. In HNSCC, melatonin induces intracellular ROS, whose accumulation plays an upstream role in mitochondria-mediated apoptosis and autophagy. Our findings indicate that melatonin, at high concentrations, combined with cisplatin and radiotherapy to improve its effectiveness, is a potential adjuvant agent.This study was partially supported by grants from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain, and the FEDER Regional Development Fund (nos. SAF2013-49019 and SAF2017-85903), from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (no. CB/10/00238), and from the Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo, Junta de Andalucía (CTS-101)