Circulating cellular clusters are associated with thrombotic complications and clinical outcomes in COVID-19

Summary: We sought to study the role of circulating cellular clusters (CCC) –such as circulating leukocyte clusters (CLCs), platelet-leukocyte aggregates (PLA), and platelet-erythrocyte aggregates (PEA)– in the immunothrombotic state induced by COVID-19. Forty-six blood samples from 37 COVID-19 patients and 12 samples from healthy controls were analyzed with imaging flow cytometry. Patients with COVID-19 had significantly higher levels of PEAs (p value<0.001) and PLAs (p value = 0.015) compared to healthy controls. Among COVID-19 patients, CLCs were correlated with thrombotic complications (p value = 0.016), vasopressor need (p value = 0.033), acute kidney injury (p value = 0.027), and pneumonia (p value = 0.036), whereas PEAs were associated with positive bacterial cultures (p value = 0.033). In predictive in silico simulations, CLCs were more likely to result in microcirculatory obstruction at low flow velocities (≤1 mm/s) and at higher branching angles. Further studies on the cellular component of hyperinflammatory prothrombotic states may lead to the identification of novel biomarkers and drug targets for inflammation-related thrombosis

Mating patterns and genetic diversity in the wild Daffodil Narcissus longispathus (Amaryllidaceae)

Despite the importance of Narcissus to ornamental horticulture, there have been no population genetic studies of wild species, many of which have narrow distributions. Here, we measure selfing rates and levels of genetic diversity at allozyme loci in six populations of Narcissus longispathus, a self-compatible daffodil endemic to a few mountain ranges in southeastern Spain. The populations were distributed among four distinct river valleys encompassing two main watersheds in the Sierra de Cazorla mountains. Selfing rates averaged 0.37 (range 0.23–0.46), resulting in significant inbreeding coefficients for the progeny (f=0.324). In contrast, estimates of inbreeding in parental genotypes were not significantly different from zero (f=0.001), indicating that few selfed offspring survive to maturity because of inbreeding depression. Species-wide estimates of genetic diversity for the six populations were Ps=0.38, Hes=0.119 and As=1.27 with significant genetic differentiation among populations theta=0.15. The observed patterns of genetic differentiation among populations are likely influenced by the mating system, and a combination of local topography, watershed affinities and gene flow.Peer reviewe

Análise morfológica de Sagittaria montevidensis desenvolvida em diferentes condições de inundação Morphological analysis of Sagittaria montevidensis developed under different flooding conditions

O cultivo de arroz irrigado em sistema pré-germinado tem permitido o desenvolvimento de plantas daninhas aquáticas, como as da espécie Sagittaria montevidensis (sagitária), a qual desenvolveu biótipos resistentes a herbicidas inibidores de ALS, no Estado de Santa Catarina. No presente trabalho, objetivou-se examinar as respostas morfológicas de sagitária quanto à variação da lâmina d'água, crescendo sob condições ambientais controladas. Os tratamentos foram representados pelas seguintes condições de inundação: solo saturado, 5, 10 e 20 cm de submersão, em delineamento experimental completamente casualizado, com cinco repetições. A presença de lâmina d'água favoreceu a germinação das sementes de sagitária. O aumento da profundidade de submersão incrementou a estatura da planta por meio do alongamento dos pecíolos das folhas espatuladas e sagitadas. Variação na profundidade da lâmina d'água não modificou o número de plantas, a massa seca, o número de folhas e de raízes, o tamanho da folha linear, o tamanho da lâmina foliar espatulada e sagitada e do escapo floral das plantas de S. montevidensis. As folhas de sagitária de mesmo tipo morfológico, quando desenvolvidas nas profundidades de água testadas, não diferiram histologicamente.<br>The cultivation of irrigated rice under water-seeded rice system has allowed the development of aquatic weed plants such as Sagittaria montevidensis (giant arrowhead), which has developed biotypes resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides in the state of Santa Catarina. This research aimed to investigate the morphologic responses of giant arrowhead to water level variation, under controlled environmental conditions. The treatments were represented by the following flood conditions: saturated soil, 5, 10 and 20 cm of water submersion, arranged in a completely randomized design, with five repetitions. Seed germination was promoted by the presence of water. Submersion depth increased plant height through petide lengthening of the spatulate and sagittate foliar blade size leaves. Water sheet depth variation did not modify the number of plants, dry mass, the number of leaves and roots, linear leaf size, spatulate and sagittate foliar blade size and the inflorescence axis of the S. montevidensis plants. The giant arrowhead leaves of the same morphological type did not differ histologically when developed under the tested water depths