The ability of inoculated rhizobial strains to increase root nodulation of host legumes often depends on their competitiveness with existing native soil strains. Results of studies to date on ...rhizobial inoculation for improvement of peanut (
Arachis hypogaea
L.) production in Argentina have been inconsistent and controversial. In many cases, nodulation and yield of peanut crops have been increased by inoculation of specific rhizobial strains. Native peanut-nodulating strains are generally present in soils of agricultural areas, but their growth-promoting effect is often lower than that of inoculated strains. Many species of the genus
Bradyrhizobium
interact in a host-specific manner with legume species and form nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Other free-living rhizobacteria such as species of the genus
Azospirillum
are facultatively capable of interacting with legume roots and promoting plant growth. We evaluated and compared the effects of various single inoculation and co-inoculation treatments on peanut growth parameters in greenhouse and field experiments. In the greenhouse studies, co-inoculation with various
Bradyrhizobium
strains (native 15A and PC34, and recommended peanut inoculant C145), and
Azospirillum brasilense
strain Az39 generally resulted in increases in the measured parameters. The growth-promoting effect of 15A was similar to or higher than that of C145. In the field studies, 15A-Az39 co-inoculation had a greater promoting effect on measured growth parameters than did C145-Az39 co-inoculation. Our findings indicate that careful selection of native rhizobacterial strains adapted to peanut soils is useful in strategies for growth promotion, and that 15A in particular is a promising candidate for future inoculant formulation.
Recently, the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has been suggested as a surrogate insulin resistance marker. This index could act as an early screening marker in individuals with a high risk of ...metabolic syndrome (MS) such as obese subjects.
The objective of this work was to detect the cutoff point of the TyG index for the diagnosis of MS according to ATPIII criteria on obese subjects and to compare with HOMA-IR.
We conducted a cross-sectional study in 1,494 obese subjects. Measurements of adiposity parameters, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, insulin concentration, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipid profile, C-reactive protein, adipokines, and the prevalence of MS were determined. The TyG index was calculated from the next equation: Ln (fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL))/2.
A total of 1,494 subjects were recruited, 421 males (28.1%) and 1,073 females (71.8%), with an average age of 45.8 ± 15.3 years (range: 29-62). A total of 677 subjects had MS (45.5%) and 817 did not show MS (54.6%). The averages of HOMA-IR and TyG index values increased as the components of MS were aggregated, and both indexes were higher in subjects with MS. The area under the curve (AUC) of the TyG index according to ATPIII criteria showed values of 0.746 (0.721-0.771; p = 0.001). The cutoff point according to the Youden index was 4.72, with sensitivity and specificity of 87% and 88.2%, respectively. For the HOMA-IR, AUC showed values of 0.682 (0.654-0.710; p = 0.01). The cutoff point was 3.23, with sensitivity and specificity of 78% and 70.1%, respectively.
The TyG index is more powerful for predicting MS than HOMA-IR in Caucasian obese subjects.
Abstract Background It has been demonstrated that the polymorphism 385 C/A of FAAH (fatty acid amide hydrolase) was associated with obesity and metabolic disorders. Objective The aim of our study was ...to investigate the relationship of the polymorphism (cDNA 385 C- > A) of FAAH gene and insulin resistance in obese patients with and without metabolic syndrome. Design A population of 799 obese patients was analyzed in cross-sectional survey. A bioimpedance, blood pressure, serial assessment of nutritional intake with 3 days written food records and biochemical analysis were performed. Genotype of FAAH gene polymorphism was studied. Results Prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) with ATP III definition was 49.8% (398 patients) and 50.2% patients without MS (n = 401 patients). Prevalence of FAAH genotypes was similar in patients with metabolic syndrome (69.6% wild genotype and 30.4% mutant genotype) and without metabolic syndrome (66.6% wild genotype and 33.4% mutant genotype). In patients without metabolic syndrome, insulin and HOMA levels were higher in mutant genotype than wild type group. Conclusion The main finding is the lack of association of the FAAH genotypes with metabolic syndrome prevalence. Patients with mutant genotype group of FAAH gene and without metabolic syndrome have higher insulin and HOMA levels than wild type group.
Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (iFISH) is increasingly used for the identification of BCR/ABL gene rearrangements in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia ...(ALL). In the present study, we have explored the incidence of both typical and atypical iFISH patterns of BCR/ABL gene rearrangements in a series of 168 consecutive BCR/ABL+ patients--135 CML, 31 precursor B-ALL and two acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) cases--and established their underlying genetic alterations through further molecular and chromosome analyses. Two different FISH probes (Vysis Inc., Downers Grove, IL, USA) were used: the LSI BCR/ABL dual color extra signal (ES) and the dual color dual fusion BCR/ABL probe (D-FISH). Our results show that most BCR/ABL+ patients (83%, including 88% of all CML, 61% of ALL and one of two AML) displayed typical iFISH patterns of either Major (M) BCR/ABL (87% of CML, 13% of ALL and one of the two AML) or minor (m) BCR/ABL gene rearrangements (1% of all CML and 48% of ALL cases) with the two probes. Further molecular and cytogenetic studies confirmed the presence of such typical rearrangements in all except one of these ALL cases who had coexistence of an MBCR/ABL and an mBCR/ABL gene rearrangement together with monosomy 9. In the remaining 29 cases (17%), up to five different atypical iFISH patterns were detected with the ES probe. Atypical iFISH patterns were most frequently due to additional numerical changes--most often supernumerary Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome (7%) but also gain or loss of chromosome 9 (1%) or 22 (1%). Deletion of 9q sequences proximal to the breakpoint were also frequently observed with the ES probe (8%). Application of the D-FISH probe showed that in most of these latter cases (5%) deletion of 22q sequences distal to the breakpoint also occurred. The remaining cases with atypical iFISH had cryptic insertion of BCR in 9q34 (1%). Exact interpretation of each iFISH pattern was supported by FISH on metaphases and molecular determination of the BCR breakpoint. In summary, our results indicate that despite the high incidence of typical iFISH patterns of BCR/ABL gene rearrangements, atypical patterns are also found in BCR/ABL+ acute leukemias; the precise definition of the alteration present in individual cases is dependent on metaphase studies and molecular definition of the breakpoint.
Common polymorphisms of the fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) have been linked to obesity in some populations. The aim of our study was to analyze the relationship of the rs9939609 FTO gene ...polymorphism on body weight, cardiovascular risk factors and serum adipokine levels in morbid obese patients.
A sample of 129 patients with obesity was analyzed in a cross sectional design. Weight, blood pressure, basal glucose, c-reactive protein (CRP), insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA), total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides blood and adipocytokines (leptin, adiponectin, resistin, TNF alpha, and interleukin 6) levels were measured. A tetrapolar bioimpedance and a prospective serial assessment of nutritional intake with 3 days written food records were realized. Genotype of FTO gene polymorphism (rs9939609) was studied.
Forty three patients (31.8%) had TT genotype, 55 patients (42.6%) TA genotype and 33 patients (25.6%) AA genotype. Body mass index (43.6 (2.6) kg/m² vs. 44.1 (2.9) kg/m²; p < 0.05), fat mass (52.0 (12.5) kg vs. 56.3 (11.7) kg: p < 0.05), weight (111.6 (16.2) kg vs. 114.9 (18.9) kg; p < 0.05), levels of C reactive protein (6.1 (4.3) mg/dl vs. 9.8 (7.1) mg/dl; p < 0.05) and levels of leptin (65.9 (52.2) ng/ml vs. 110.9 (74.1); < 0.05) were higher in mutant type group (A allele) than wild genotype group (TT).
The FTO gene polymorphism, rs9939609, was found to be associated with weight, fat mass, C reactive protein and leptin levels in morbid obese patients with A allele.
This ApoA5-1131C allele of rs662799 variant is related with a higher serum triglyceride levels, and it contributes to increase risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present investigation was ...to evaluate single nucleotide polymorphism rs662799 in APOA5 gene and its associations with cardiovascular risk factors, MS, and serum adipokine levels.
The study involved a population of 1,002 Caucasian obese subjects. Measurements of body weight, waist circumference, fat mass, arterial blood pressure, blood glucose, C-reactive protein, insulin levels, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipid profile, and adipokines levels were recorded. Genotype of ApoA5 gene polymorphism (rs662799) and prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) were evaluated.
The distribution of the rs662799 polymorphism in this adult population (n = 1,002) was 88.3% (n = 885) (TT), 11.4% (n = 114) (TC), and 0.3% (n = 3) (CC). No significant differences were found between the 2 genotypes in the anthropometric data, MS, or blood pressure. Triglyceride levels were higher in C-allele carriers (delta total group: 19.7 ± 2.1 mg/dL: p = 0.02) than non C-allele carriers. HDL-cholesterol levels were lower in C-allele carriers (delta total group: -6.7 ± 1.1 mg/dL: p = 0.02) than non C-allele carriers. Adiponectin levels were lower in C-allele carriers (delta total group: -11.6 ± 1.0 mg/dL: p = 0.02) too. In C-allele carriers, logistic regression analysis showed an increased risk of hypertriglyceridemia (odds ratio OR = 2.1, 95% confidence interval CI = 1.2-3.4, p = 0.001) and percentage of low-HDL-C (OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.3-3.7, p = 0.002) after adjusting by body mass index and age.
C-allele carriers of rs662799 of APOA5 gene showed high rates of low levels of HDL and hypertriglyceridemia, with differences in triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, and adiponectin levels in Caucasian obese subjects.
The exopolyphosphatase (Ppx) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is encoded by the PA5241 gene (ppx). Ppx catalyses the hydrolysis of inorganic polyphosphates to orthophosphate (Pi). In the present work, we ...identified and characterized the promoter region of ppx and its regulation under environmental stress conditions. The role of Ppx in the production of several virulence factors was demonstrated through studies performed on a ppx null mutant. We found that ppx is under the control of two interspaced promoters, dually regulated by nitrogen and phosphate limitation. Under nitrogen-limiting conditions, its expression was controlled from a σ(54)-dependent promoter activated by the response regulator NtrC. However, under Pi limitation, the expression was controlled from a σ(70) promoter, activated by PhoB. Results obtained from the ppx null mutant demonstrated that Ppx is involved in the production of virulence factors associated with both acute infection (e.g. motility-promoting factors, blue/green pigment production, C6-C12 quorum-sensing homoserine lactones) and chronic infection (e.g. rhamnolipids, biofilm formation). Molecular and physiological approaches used in this study indicated that P. aeruginosa maintains consistently proper levels of Ppx regardless of environmental conditions. The precise control of ppx expression appeared to be essential for the survival of P. aeruginosa and the occurrence of either acute or chronic infection in the host.
Many elderly patients with COVID-19 are at risk of malnutrition. The aim of our study was to evaluate the risk of malnutrition and sarcopenia in elderly COVID-19 patients with the R-MAPP ...(Remote-Malnutrition APP).
A cross-sectional study of 337 consecutive outpatients ≥65 years who attended the Central Emergency COVID-19 Hospital of Castilla y Leon was conducted. In all patients, the protocol of R-MAPP (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool MUST and Simple Questionnaire to Rapidly Diagnose Sarcopenia SARC-F) was realized.
The mean age was 86.1 ± 8.7 years, with a sex distribution of 167 males (49.5%) and 170 females (51.5%). According to the MUST test, patients with 0 points have a low nutritional risk (n = 50, 14.8%), 1 point a medium nutritional risk (n = 19, 5.6%), and 2 or more points a high nutritional risk (n = 268, 79.6%). The SARC-F questionnaire generates patients with 4 or more points as predictive of sarcopenia (n = 304, 80.2%) and <4 points without prediction of sarcopenia (n = 33, 9.8%). Global mortality was 24.03% (n = 81). The mortality rate was related to the pathological SARC-F score ≥4 (27.1% vs. 3.1%; p = 0.01) and MUST score ≥2 (26.7% vs. 16.4%; p = 0.04). In the logistic regression analysis, only the SARC-F score ≥4 remained as an independent variable related to mortality; odds ratio was 8.34 (95% CI: 1.1-63.8; p = 0.04), adjusted for age, sex, albumin levels, and MUST test.
During COVID-19 infection, hospitalized patients at risk of sarcopenia have a high risk of mortality and have a poor nutritional status.
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