Evaluation of soybean cyst nematode disease resistance potential from a selection of public breeding efforts

Ranking amongst the most economically damaging pests of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], the soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) threatens soybean production on a global scale. The primary strategy for managing SCN infestation is by planting high-yielding resistant cultivars. The objective of this study was to critically evaluate cultivars from the Cianzio soybean breeding project for yield and defensive traits developed from 2000 to 2020 combining high seed yield and SCN resistance. Forty-nine genotypes including checks were tested during 2017 and 2018 seasons on two field sites each year, one on SCN-infested and another on non-infested soil. The genotypes were additionally evaluated in controlled greenhouse conditions. Agronomic and SCN-related disease resistance traits were scored for all genotypes, and molecular profiling was done to determine the source of SCN resistance. Results indicate the program successfully introgressed SCN resistance genes, using three novel sources in addition to Peking and PI 88788, all protecting yield. All resistant genotypes, verified by qPCR rhg1 copy number estimates, proved to effectively control nematode reproduction and subsequent nematode population numbers at the SCN-infested location. This study has confirmed the use of the simple sequence repeat Satt309 molecular marker as an effective method for selecting for SCN resistance and determining rhg1 copy number repeats

Evaluation of Soybean Varieties in the Northern Uniform Soybean Test–Uniform Test III

The Northern Uniform/Preliminary (UT-PT) Soybean Test is used to evaluate soybean varieties produced by public breeding programs in the Northern portion of the United States and Canada. In 2014, 10 public breeding programs participated in the Northern UT-PT III Tests (Uniform Test III and Preliminary Test IIIA and IIIB). Public breeders were allowed to enter varieties into the UT-PT Test in exchange for growing locations for the test. Material entered into the UT-PT Test is generally in advanced stages of a breeding program. Lines are evaluated one year in Preliminary Testing before being entered in Uniform Tests. Lines usually are evaluated in Uniform trials for two or three years prior to release as new varieties. The UT-PT Soybean Test is an efficient method for soybean breeders to get a wider geographic range of field evaluations on advance lines and to evaluate advance lines from other public programs, which could be used as parents in future crossing. Once a variety is released, these results also are used in cultivar releases, publications, and publicity

Evaluation of Commercial Varieties in the Northern United States–Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome Commercial Variety Test

Soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS) is a fungal disease causing foliar necrosis and early leaf drop. SDS can be a significant factor in soybean yield loss and has been found in fields across Iowa. The fungus is a good saprophyte and can grow well on plant debris in the field. The disease often is worse following corn. Although there is no complete resistance to SDS available in soybean, disease resistance is an important part of SDS disease management

S6 kinase localizes to the presynaptic active zone and functions with PDK1 to control synapse development

S6 kinase localizes to the active zone in a Brp-dependent manner and collaborates with presynaptic PDK1 to modulate neuronal cell size, bouton size, active zone number, and neurotransmitter release

Clinical complexity and impact of the ABC (Atrial fibrillation Better Care) pathway in patients with atrial fibrillation: a report from the ESC-EHRA EURObservational Research Programme in AF General Long-Term Registry

Background: Clinical complexity is increasingly prevalent among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The ‘Atrial fibrillation Better Care’ (ABC) pathway approach has been proposed to streamline a more holistic and integrated approach to AF care; however, there are limited data on its usefulness among clinically complex patients. We aim to determine the impact of ABC pathway in a contemporary cohort of clinically complex AF patients. Methods: From the ESC-EHRA EORP-AF General Long-Term Registry, we analysed clinically complex AF patients, defined as the presence of frailty, multimorbidity and/or polypharmacy. A K-medoids cluster analysis was performed to identify different groups of clinical complexity. The impact of an ABC-adherent approach on major outcomes was analysed through Cox-regression analyses and delay of event (DoE) analyses. Results: Among 9966 AF patients included, 8289 (83.1%) were clinically complex. Adherence to the ABC pathway in the clinically complex group reduced the risk of all-cause death (adjusted HR [aHR]: 0.72, 95%CI 0.58–0.91), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs; aHR: 0.68, 95%CI 0.52–0.87) and composite outcome (aHR: 0.70, 95%CI: 0.58–0.85). Adherence to the ABC pathway was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of death (aHR: 0.74, 95%CI 0.56–0.98) and composite outcome (aHR: 0.76, 95%CI 0.60–0.96) also in the high-complexity cluster; similar trends were observed for MACEs. In DoE analyses, an ABC-adherent approach resulted in significant gains in event-free survival for all the outcomes investigated in clinically complex patients. Based on absolute risk reduction at 1 year of follow-up, the number needed to treat for ABC pathway adherence was 24 for all-cause death, 31 for MACEs and 20 for the composite outcome. Conclusions: An ABC-adherent approach reduces the risk of major outcomes in clinically complex AF patients. Ensuring adherence to the ABC pathway is essential to improve clinical outcomes among clinically complex AF patients

Impact of renal impairment on atrial fibrillation: ESC-EHRA EORP-AF Long-Term General Registry

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and renal impairment share a bidirectional relationship with important pathophysiological interactions. We evaluated the impact of renal impairment in a contemporary cohort of patients with AF. Methods: We utilised the ESC-EHRA EORP-AF Long-Term General Registry. Outcomes were analysed according to renal function by CKD-EPI equation. The primary endpoint was a composite of thromboembolism, major bleeding, acute coronary syndrome and all-cause death. Secondary endpoints were each of these separately including ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic event, intracranial haemorrhage, cardiovascular death and hospital admission. Results: A total of 9306 patients were included. The distribution of patients with no, mild, moderate and severe renal impairment at baseline were 16.9%, 49.3%, 30% and 3.8%, respectively. AF patients with impaired renal function were older, more likely to be females, had worse cardiac imaging parameters and multiple comorbidities. Among patients with an indication for anticoagulation, prescription of these agents was reduced in those with severe renal impairment, p <.001. Over 24 months, impaired renal function was associated with significantly greater incidence of the primary composite outcome and all secondary outcomes. Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated an inverse relationship between eGFR and the primary outcome (HR 1.07 [95% CI, 1.01–1.14] per 10 ml/min/1.73 m2 decrease), that was most notable in patients with eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m2 (HR 2.21 [95% CI, 1.23–3.99] compared to eGFR ≥90 ml/min/1.73 m2). Conclusion: A significant proportion of patients with AF suffer from concomitant renal impairment which impacts their overall management. Furthermore, renal impairment is an independent predictor of major adverse events including thromboembolism, major bleeding, acute coronary syndrome and all-cause death in patients with AF

Impact of clinical phenotypes on management and outcomes in European atrial fibrillation patients: a report from the ESC-EHRA EURObservational Research Programme in AF (EORP-AF) General Long-Term Registry

Background: Epidemiological studies in atrial fibrillation (AF) illustrate that clinical complexity increase the risk of major adverse outcomes. We aimed to describe European AF patients\u2019 clinical phenotypes and analyse the differential clinical course. Methods: We performed a hierarchical cluster analysis based on Ward\u2019s Method and Squared Euclidean Distance using 22 clinical binary variables, identifying the optimal number of clusters. We investigated differences in clinical management, use of healthcare resources and outcomes in a cohort of European AF patients from a Europe-wide observational registry. Results: A total of 9363 were available for this analysis. We identified three clusters: Cluster 1 (n = 3634; 38.8%) characterized by older patients and prevalent non-cardiac comorbidities; Cluster 2 (n = 2774; 29.6%) characterized by younger patients with low prevalence of comorbidities; Cluster 3 (n = 2955;31.6%) characterized by patients\u2019 prevalent cardiovascular risk factors/comorbidities. Over a mean follow-up of 22.5 months, Cluster 3 had the highest rate of cardiovascular events, all-cause death, and the composite outcome (combining the previous two) compared to Cluster 1 and Cluster 2 (all P <.001). An adjusted Cox regression showed that compared to Cluster 2, Cluster 3 (hazard ratio (HR) 2.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.27\u20133.62; HR 3.42, 95%CI 2.72\u20134.31; HR 2.79, 95%CI 2.32\u20133.35), and Cluster 1 (HR 1.88, 95%CI 1.48\u20132.38; HR 2.50, 95%CI 1.98\u20133.15; HR 2.09, 95%CI 1.74\u20132.51) reported a higher risk for the three outcomes respectively. Conclusions: In European AF patients, three main clusters were identified, differentiated by differential presence of comorbidities. Both non-cardiac and cardiac comorbidities clusters were found to be associated with an increased risk of major adverse outcomes

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]

Evaluation of soybean cyst nematode disease resistance potential from a selection of public breeding efforts

Ranking amongst the most economically damaging pests of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], the soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) threatens soybean production on a global scale. The primary strategy for managing SCN infestation is by planting high-yielding resistant cultivars. The objective of this study was to critically evaluate cultivars from the Cianzio soybean breeding project for yield and defensive traits developed from 2000 to 2020 combining high seed yield and SCN resistance. Forty-nine genotypes including checks were tested during 2017 and 2018 seasons on two field sites each year, one on SCN-infested and another on non-infested soil. The genotypes were additionally evaluated in controlled greenhouse conditions. Agronomic and SCN-related disease resistance traits were scored for all genotypes, and molecular profiling was done to determine the source of SCN resistance. Results indicate the program successfully introgressed SCN resistance genes, using three novel sources in addition to Peking and PI 88788, all protecting yield. All resistant genotypes, verified by qPCR rhg1 copy number estimates, proved to effectively control nematode reproduction and subsequent nematode population numbers at the SCN-infested location. This study has confirmed the use of the simple sequence repeat Satt309 molecular marker as an effective method for selecting for SCN resistance and determining rhg1 copy number repeats.</p

Evaluation of Soybean Commercial Varieties for Sudden Death Syndrome in Southern Iowa 2015

Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) is a major fungal disease of soybean in the Midwest. SDS has been found in all counties in Iowa. The large amount of rain in 2015 encouraged SDS foliar symptoms. Yield loss associated with SDS was noted even when foliar symptoms were negligible.</p