Salicylic Acid,as a Positive Regulator of Isochorismate Synthase,Reduces the Negative Effect of Salt Stress on Pistacia vera L. by Increasing Photosynthetic Pigments and Inducing Antioxidant Activity

Salinity, as a serious and prevalent abiotic stress, causes widespread crop losses by restricting plant growth and production throughout the world. In this study, the biochemical and molecular responses of the pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) plant were studied under NaCl and salicylic acid (SA) treatments using hydroponically grown salt tolerant (Ghazvini) and salt sensitive (Sarakhs) pistachio cultivars. NaCl treatment (250 mM) increased the production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in both cultivars. In the sensitive cultivar, the H₂O₂ content was higher than the tolerant cultivar, especially in the roots. SA application to both salt-stress-treated cultivars resulted in an increase in photosynthetic pigment contents and antioxidant enzyme activity and a decrease in the H₂O₂ and MDA contents. After NaCl treatment, the isochorismate synthase (ICS) gene was upregulated in Ghazvini which leads to an increase in the SA content of the salt tolerant pistachio cultivar. In contrast, the salt treatment downregulated the expression of the ICS gene in Sarakhs. The ICS gene expression was positively regulated by SA treatment under the salt stress condition. Our results suggest that Ghazvini has higher salinity tolerance than Sarakhs due to its higher antioxidant capacity, photosynthetic pigment content, and the cultivar-specific expression pattern of the ICS gene. In this study, the potential alleviative effects of SA on the adverse effect of salt stress in P. vera (Pistacia vera) were also identified and highlighted.

     

Fine needle aspiration of subcutaneous masses caused by Aspergillus: a report of 2 cases

BACKGROUND: Fine needle aspiration biopsy is a well-established method for dijfrrentiation of infective from neoplastic lesions. Varions infective agents, such as mycobacteria, leishmaniasis and microfaria can be diagnosed from aspirates, but there are few case reports on fungal infections in aspirates. Cytologic diagnosis of Aspergillus has occasionally occurred on sputum, pulmonary samples, vaginal secretions, endometrial washings and maxillary sinus specimens. One case of hepatic and subcutaneous masses was diagnosed as Aspergillus by fine needle aspiration and confirmed by culture and histology. CASES: Two cases of subcutaneous aspergillosis were diagnosed by fine needle aspiration and confirmed by culture and histology. CONCLUSION: Fine needle aspiration cytology is a rapid, sensitive and important method of diagnosing Aspergillus and provides a rapid diagnosis, which may be life saving in an immunocompromised patient.