Paradoxical growth (PG) and trailing effect (TE) are frequently observed during antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST). These two phenomena interfere with the determination of the minimal ...inhibitory concentration (MIC). The aim of this study was to assess the clinical impact of TE and PG.
We analysed the frequency of TE and PG of 690 Candida isolates collected from a population-based study performed in Spain (CANDIPOP) and correlated the results with clinical outcome of the patients.
Around 70% (484/690) of the isolates exhibited TE to azoles. Candida tropicalis showed the highest presence of TE (39/53 isolates exhibited residual growth >25% of control). No TE was seen in most of the isolates from the psilosis complex. PG was mainly associated with echinocandins. In patients treated with fluconazole within the first 48 hours after blood sampling (n = 221), the presence of TE to azoles tended to be associated with lower 30-day mortality (odds ratio (OR) 0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.25–1.00) but not with clinical failure (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.45–1.54). In the subgroup of 117 patients treated with echinocandins, the presence of PG was not associated with patient's response to antifungal treatment (OR for 30-day mortality 1.63, 95% CI 0.76–4.03; OR for clinical failure 1.17, 95% CI 0.53–2.70).
TE or PG are widely expressed among Candida spp., although they do not seem to influence clinical outcome.
In April of 2012, tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) grown near the town of Yuroconte in the municipality of La Palma, Chalatenango, El Salvador, were observed with symptoms resembling those of ..."Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" infection. The symptoms included overall chlorosis, severe stunting, leaf cupping, excessive branching of axillary shoots, and leaf purpling and scorching (1,2,3). Disease incidence in several fields in the area ranged from 40 to 60%. Heavy infestations of the potato/tomato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli, were observed in the affected fields and this insect has been shown to transmit "Ca. L. solanacearum" to tomato and other solanaceous species (1,2,3). Leaf samples and psyllids were collected from one of the fields and total DNA was purified from the leaves of 8 and 10 symptomatic and asymptomatic plants, respectively (2,3). DNA was also extracted from the psyllids and the samples were tested by PCR for species confirmation. PCR oligonucleotide primers specific for both 16S rDNA (OA2 and OI2c) and a gene for a surface antigen for the outer membrane protein (OMB) (OMB 1482f and 2086r) of "Ca. L. solanacearum" were used to confirm the presence of the bacterium in infected tomatoes (1). Four of the eight symptomatic tomatoes (50%) tested positive for "Ca. L. solanacearum" using both primer pairs and all asymptomatic plants were negative for the bacterium. The collected psyllids were first identified through a morphological key, then verified using species-specific PCR primers (CO1 F3 and CO1 meltR) that generated a 94-bp fragment that was consistent with DNA from B. cockerelli (4). Amplicons generated with DNA from two plant samples with each primer pair were cloned and four clones of each of the four amplicons were sequenced. BLASTn analysis of the 16S rDNA consensus sequences from the clones (1,168 bp; deposited in GenBank as Accession Nos. KC768318 and KC768319) showed 100% identity to "Ca. L. solanacearum" sequences in GenBank (HM246509 and HM245242, respectively). Two OMB consensus sequences were 98% identical (deposited in GenBank as KC768326 and KC768327) and both sequences were 97 to 100% identical to a number of "Ca. L. solanacearum" sequences in GenBank (e.g., CP002371, FJ914617, JN848754, and JN848752). To our knowledge, this is the first report of "Ca. L. solanacearum" associated with tomato in El Salvador and the first formal report of the bacterium in the country. This bacterium has caused millions of dollars in losses to the tomato industry in New Zealand, Mexico and the United States (2,3). Tomatoes are an economically important commodity in Central America and are severely damaged by "Ca. L. solanacearum" infection. The confirmation of "Ca. L. solanacearum" infections in El Salvador alerts the agricultural sector to the presence of this serious pathogen. References: (1) J. M. Crosslin. Southwest. Entomol. 36:125, 2011. (2) L. W. Liefting et al. Plant Dis. 93:208, 2009. (3) J. E. Munyaneza et al. Plant Dis. 93:1076, 2009. (4) K. D. Swisher et al. Environ. Entomol. 41:1019, 2012.
There are numerous studies evaluating biocontrol of root rot by using the antagonistic effects of either arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) or rhizobacteria, but usually independently. Fewer studies, ...although growing in number, report on evaluating the effectiveness of concurrent fungi–bacteria inoculation in combating root rot; and furthermore, there are none to date reported with papaya. In this study, an indigenous Pseudomonas sp. (PPV3) was isolated from roots of papaya (Carica papaya L. cv. Maradol) and used with an AMF complex (MTZ01) consisting of four fungi Glomus intraradices, Glomus mosseae, Glomus etunicatum and Gigaspora albida to inoculate roots of papaya in order to determine their antagonistic effects against Fusarium oxysporum, individually and in combination. It was found that with inoculation with PPV3 and MTZ01 protection was highest (85%) and had reduced disease (10%) as well as reducing F. oxysporum colonization in papaya seedlings. Inoculations with MTZ01 or PPV3 showed an efficacy of 54 and 60%, with a level of disease severity of the 38 and 22%, respectively. The combination of the AMF complex (MTZ01) with rhizobacterial Pseudomonas sp. (PPV3) modified the effects of F. oxysporum and provided increased protection for C. papaya than either acting alone. These results suggest that rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi acting together formed a mutualistic relationship that enhances disease control against F. oxysporum and stimulates growth in C. papaya.
► We isolated indigenous rhizobacteria from roots of papaya (Carica papaya). ► First report of biocontrol using both rhizobacteria and mycorrhiza in papaya. ► Biocontrol of root rot was improved with mycorrhiza in papaya. ► Biocontrol of root rot was better with rhizobacteria in papaya. ► Biocontrol of root rot was best with rhizobacteria and mycorrhiza in papaya.
Inflammatory markers have prognostic value in various tumors due to the role of inflammatory phenomena at different stages of tumor development. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the prognostic ...value of these markers, as well as other clinical and analytical variables in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
Prospective cohort study carried out on 80 patients diagnosed with mCRPC. Clinical and analytical data were collected, and the following inflammatory markers were estimated: Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC), Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Total Platelet Count (TPC), Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Lymphocyte-Monocyte Ratio (LMR) and Systemic Inflammation Index (SII). The values of albumin, hemoglobin (Hb), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also determined.
Patients with ANC>7500, NLR>3, PLR>150, LMR>3 and/or SII>535,000, presented significantly lower median survival time than the remaining patients, and TPC was the only marker which did not show a significant association. Moreover, NLR, PLR and SII were inversely correlated with survival time. Patients with hypoalbuminemia, anemia, and elevated LDH values had significantly lower median survival time. Albumin and hemoglobin were directly correlated to overall survival time. The need for analgesia was also associated with shorter survival.
The values of certain inflammatory markers are associated with shorter survival time in patients with mCRPC, and their use in clinical practice can be considered to evaluate the prognosis and estimate survival.
Los marcadores inflamatorios tienen valor pronóstico en diferentes tumores por la intervención de los fenómenos inflamatorios de las diferentes etapas del desarrollo tumoral. El objetivo de este estudio es demostrar el valor pronóstico de estos marcadores, así como de otras variables clínicas y analíticas en pacientes con cáncer de próstata metastásico resistente a la castración (CPRCm).
Estudio de cohortes prospectivo realizado en 80 pacientes diagnosticados de CPRCm. Se recogieron datos clínicos y analíticos, estimándose los siguientes marcadores inflamatorios: recuento total de neutrófilos (RTN), ratio neutrófilo/linfocito (RN/L), recuento total de plaquetas (RTP), ratio plaquetas/linfocito (RP/L), ratio linfocito/monocito (RL/M) e índice sistémico de inflamación (ISI). igualmente se determinaron los valores de albúmina, hemoglobina (Hb), fosfatasa alcalina (FA) y lactato deshidrogenasa (LDH).
Los pacientes con RTN>7500, RN/L>3, RP/L>150, RL/M>3 y/o ISI>535.000, presentaron una mediana de supervivencia significativamente menores que el resto de pacientes, siendo el RTP el único marcador que no mostró asociación significativa. Además, la RN/L, RP/L y el ISI se correlacionaron inversamente con el tiempo de supervivencia. Los pacientes con hipoalbuminemia, anemia y valores elevados de LDH presentaron medianas de supervivencia significativamente menores. La albumina y la hemoglobina presentaron a su vez una correlación directa con el tiempo total de supervivencia. La necesidad de analgesia también se asoció con una menor supervivencia.
Los valores de determinados marcadores inflamatorios se asocian con menor supervivencia en pacientes con CPRCm, pudiendo considerarse su uso en la práctica clínica para evaluar el pronóstico y estimar la supervivencia.
The objective of this study was to determine the effects of two insecticides, namely, acetamiprid and carbofuran on the enzymatic activities of arylamidase (as glucose formed from sinigrin) and ...myrosinase (as β-naphthylamine formed from L-leucine β-naphthylamide) in the black and red clay soils collected from a fallow groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) fields in the Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. The study was realized within the framework of the laboratory experiments in which the acetamiprid and carbofuran were applied to the soils at different doses (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 kg ha⁻¹). Initially, the physicochechemical properties of the soil samples were analyzed. After 10 days of pesticide application, the soil samples were analyzed for the enzyme activities. Acetamiprid and carbofuran stimulated the arylamidase and myrosinase activities at lower concentrations after 10 days incubation. Striking stimulation in soil enzyme activities was noticed at 2.5 kg ha⁻¹, persists for 20 days in both the soils. Overall, higher concentrations (5.0–10.0 kg ha⁻¹) of acetamiprid and carbofuran were toxic or innocuous to the arylamidase and myrosinase activities. Nevertheless, the outcomes of the present study clearly indicate that the use of these insecticides (at field application rates) in the groundnut fields (black and red clay soils) stimulated the enzyme (arylamidase and myrosinase) activities.
Durante la última década en la provincia de Santiago del Estero, Argentina, se dieron a conocer datos sobre reproducción de treintaiún especies nativas, principalmente de especies comunes de observar ...y de amplia distribución geográfica local. En este trabajo presentamos datos de reproducción del Calancate Cabeza Azul (Thectocercus acuticaudatus), el Piojito Picudo (Inezia inornata) y el Fueguero (Piranga flava). Los registros de nidos fueron observados en áreas de bosque chaqueño semiárido de Santiago del Estero, durante el monitoreo de vertebrados en comunidades campesinas del norte de la provincia. Estos registros contribuyen al conocimiento de la biodiversidad presente en los socioecosistemas campesinos, y son los primeros registros de nidificación de las tres especies para esta provincia. Este aporte complementa el escaso conocimiento que aún se tiene sobre la biología reproductiva de la avifauna en el noroeste argentino. El Calancate Cabeza Azul y el Fueguero son aves residentes y de amplia distribución en el territorio provincial, de las cuales no existía información sobre su nidificación para la provincia. Por otro lado, el Piojito Picudo es una especie recientemente documentada en Santiago del Estero, considerada ocasional, migrante estival reproductor (sin datos reproductivos), y en cuanto a su reproducción solo cuenta con registros de dos nidos para Argentina.
Abstract Bilobalide, a constituent of Ginkgo biloba , has neuroprotective properties. Its mechanism of action is unknown but it was recently found to block GABAA receptors. The goal of this study was ...to test the potential role of a GABAergic mechanism for the neuroprotective activity of bilobalide. In rat hippocampal slices exposed to NMDA, release of choline indicates breakdown of membrane phospholipids. NMDA-induced choline release was almost completely blocked in the presence of bilobalide (10 μM) and under low-chloride conditions. Bicuculline (100 μM), a competitive antagonist at GABAA receptors, reduced NMDA-induced choline release to a small extent (− 23%). GABA (100 μM) partially antagonized the inhibitory action of bilobalide. Exposure of hippocampal slices to NMDA also caused edema formation as measured by increases of tissue water content. NMDA-induced edema formation was suppressed by bilobalide and by low-chloride conditions. Bicuculline exerted partial protection (by 30%) while GABA reduced bilobalide's effect by about one third. To investigate bilobalide's interaction with GABAA receptors directly, we measured binding of 35 S-TBPS to rat cortical membranes. TBPS binding was competitively inhibited by bilobalide in the low micromolar range (IC50 = 3.7 μM). As a functional test, we determined36 chloride flux in rat corticohippocampal synaptoneurosomes. GABA (100 μM) significantly increased36 chloride flux (+ 65%), and this increase was blocked by bilobalide, but with low potency (IC50 : 39 μM). We conclude that, while antagonism of GABAA receptors may contribute to bilobalide's neuroprotective effects, additional mechanisms must be postulated to fully explain bilobalide's actions.
Abstract Correlations in azimuthal angle extending over a long range in pseudorapidity between particles, usually called the “ridge” phenomenon, were discovered in heavy-ion collisions, and later ...found in pp and p–Pb collisions. In large systems, they are thought to arise from the expansion (collective flow) of the produced particles. Extending these measurements over a wider range in pseudorapidity and final-state particle multiplicity is important to understand better the origin of these long-range correlations in small collision systems. In this Letter, measurements of the long-range correlations in p–Pb collisions at s NN $$ \sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}} $$ = 5.02 TeV are extended to a pseudorapidity gap of ∆η ~ 8 between particles using the ALICE forward multiplicity detectors. After suppressing non-flow correlations, e.g., from jet and resonance decays, the ridge structure is observed to persist up to a very large gap of ∆η ~ 8 for the first time in p–Pb collisions. This shows that the collective flow-like correlations extend over an extensive pseudorapidity range also in small collision systems such as p–Pb collisions. The pseudorapidity dependence of the second-order anisotropic flow coefficient, v 2(η), is extracted from the long-range correlations. The v 2(η) results are presented for a wide pseudorapidity range of –3.1 < η < 4.8 in various centrality classes in p–Pb collisions. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the source of anisotropic flow in small collision systems, the v 2(η) measurements are compared with hydrodynamic and transport model calculations. The comparison suggests that the final-state interactions play a dominant role in developing the anisotropic flow in small collision systems.
Abstract Measurements of the production cross sections of prompt D0, D+, D*+, D s + $$ {\textrm{D}}_{\textrm{s}}^{+} $$ , Λ c + $$ {\Lambda}_{\textrm{c}}^{+} $$ , and Ξ c + $$ {\Xi}_{\textrm{c}}^{+} ...$$ charm hadrons at midrapidity in proton-proton collisions at s $$ \sqrt{s} $$ = 13 TeV with the ALICE detector are presented. The D-meson cross sections as a function of transverse momentum (p T) are provided with improved precision and granularity. The ratios of p T-differential meson production cross sections based on this publication and on measurements at different rapidity and collision energy provide a constraint on gluon parton distribution functions at low values of Bjorken-x (10 −5–10 −4). The measurements of Λ c + $$ {\Lambda}_{\textrm{c}}^{+} $$ ( Ξ c + $$ {\Xi}_{\textrm{c}}^{+} $$ ) baryon production extend the measured p T intervals down to p T = 0(3) GeV/c. These measurements are used to determine the charm-quark fragmentation fractions and the c c ¯ $$ \textrm{c}\overline{\textrm{c}} $$ production cross section at midrapidity (|y| < 0.5) based on the sum of the cross sections of the weakly-decaying ground-state charm hadrons D0, D+, D s + $$ {\textrm{D}}_{\textrm{s}}^{+} $$ , Λ c + $$ {\Lambda}_{\textrm{c}}^{+} $$ , Ξ c 0 $$ {\Xi}_{\textrm{c}}^0 $$ and, for the first time, Ξ c + $$ {\Xi}_{\textrm{c}}^{+} $$ , and of the strongly-decaying J/ψ mesons. The first measurements of Ξ c + $$ {\Xi}_{\textrm{c}}^{+} $$ and Σ c 0 , + + $$ {\Sigma}_{\textrm{c}}^{0,++} $$ fragmentation fractions at midrapidity are also reported. A significantly larger fraction of charm quarks hadronising to baryons is found compared to e+e − and ep collisions. The c c ¯ $$ \textrm{c}\overline{\textrm{c}} $$ production cross section at midrapidity is found to be at the upper bound of state-of-the-art perturbative QCD calculations.
Abstract The production yields of the Σ(1385) ± and Ξ(1530)0 resonances are measured in pp collisions at s $$ \sqrt{s} $$ = 13 TeV with ALICE. The measurements are performed as a function of the ...charged-particle multiplicity ⟨dN ch /dη⟩, which is related to the energy density produced in the collision. The results include transverse momentum (p T) distributions, p T-integrated yields, mean transverse momenta of Σ(1385) ± and Ξ(1530)0, as well as ratios of the p T-integrated resonance yields relative to yields of other hadron species. The Σ(1385) ± /π ± and Ξ(1530)0 /π ± yield ratios are consistent with the trend of the enhancement of strangeness production from low to high multiplicity pp collisions, which was previously observed for strange and multi-strange baryons. The yield ratio between the measured resonances and the long-lived baryons with the same strangeness content exhibits a hint of a mild increasing trend at low multiplicity, despite too large uncertainties to exclude the flat behaviour. The results are compared with predictions from models such as EPOS-LHC and PYTHIA 8 with Rope shoving. The latter provides the best description of the multiplicity dependence of the Σ(1385) ± and Ξ(1530)0 production in pp collisions at s $$ \sqrt{s} $$ = 13 TeV.
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