Vasospasm is a significant factor in cyclosporine-induced neurotoxicity: Case report

Background

The aetiology of central nervous system lesions observed in cerebral cyclosporine neurotoxicity remains controversial.

Case presentation

We report a 48-year-old woman with a non-severe aplastic anaemia who presented with stroke-like episodes while on cyclosporine treatment.Transcranial Doppler ultrasound revealed severely elevated flow velocities in several cerebral vessels, consistent with vasospasm. Immediately after reducing the cyclosporine dose, the stroke-like episodes disappeared. Only after cyclosporine withdrawal the transcranial Doppler ultrasound abnormalities fully resolved.

Conclusions

This case demonstrates a significant role of vasospasm in the pathway of cyclosporine-induced neurotoxicity. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound is an effective tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of cyclosporine-induced vasospasm.

     

Aspergillus terreus and its toxic metabolites as a food contaminant in some Egyptian Bakery products and grains

A. terreus isolates isolated from some bakery products, corn and rice were found to be able to produce territrems. 90% of theA. terreus isolated from bakery products were able to produce territrem A, with a mean of 0.09 ppm, while 80% ofA. terreus isolates produce territrem B with a mean of 0.24 ppm. On the other hand 31.8% of the isolates ofA. terreus from corn were able to produce territrem A with a mean of 0.44 ppm. ConcerningA. terreus isolates from rice, 66.7% were found to produce territrem A, with a mean of 5.28 ppm, and 77.8% of the isolates produced territrem B with a mean of 1.79 ppm.     

The phylogeny of the superfamily Coccoidea (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha) based on the morphology of extant and extinct macropterous males

Currently, 49 families of scale insects are recognised, 33 of which are extant. Despite more than a decade of DNA sequence‐based phylogenetic studies of scales insects, little is known with confidence about relationships among scale insects families. Multiple lines of evidence support the monophyly of a group of 18 scale insect families informally referred to as the neococcoids. Among neococcoid families, published DNA sequence‐based estimates have supported Eriococcidae paraphyly with respect to Beesoniidae, Dactylopiidae, and Stictococcidae. No other neococcoid interfamily relationship has been strongly supported in a published study that includes exemplars of more than ten families. Likewise, no well‐supported relationships among the 15 extant scale insect families that are not neococcoids (usually referred to as ‘archaeococcoids’) have been published. We use a Bayesian approach to estimate the scale insect phylogeny from 162 adult male morphological characters, scored from 269 extant and 29 fossil species representing 43/49 families. The result is the most taxonomically comprehensive, most resolved and best supported estimate of phylogenetic relationships among scale insect families to date. Notable results include strong support for (i) Ortheziidae sister to Matsucoccidae, (ii) a clade comprising all scale insects except for Margarodidae s.s., Ortheziidae and Matsucoccidae, (iii) Coelostomidiidae paraphyletic with respect to Monophlebidae, (iv) Eriococcidae paraphyletic with respect to Stictococcidae and Beesoniidae, and (v) Aclerdidae sister to Coccidae. We recover strong support for a clade comprising Phenacoleachiidae, Pityococcidae, Putoidae, Steingeliidae and the neococcoids, along with a sister relationship between this clade and Coelostomidiidae + Monophlebidae. In addition, we recover strong support for Pityococcidae + Steingeliidae as sister to the neococcoids. Data from fossils were incomplete, and the inclusion of extinct taxa in the data matrix reduced support and phylogenetic structure. Nonetheless, these fossil data will be invaluable in DNA sequence‐based and total evidence estimates of phylogenetic divergence times.     

Gene flow of the canker pathogen Botryosphaeria australis between Eucalyptus globulus plantations and native eucalypt forests in Western Australia

Abstract The eucalypt plantation industry in Western Australia provides a unique opportunity to study the movement of pathogens between closely related host taxa. Eucalyptus globulus, a native to Tasmania and south‐eastern Australia, is the predominant species in Western Australian plantations, often being planted adjacent to native forest containing Eucalyptus marginata and Eucalyptus diversicolor. Since the commencement of the plantation industry 20 years ago, several fungal species, previously known only to eastern Australia or overseas, have been reported on E. globulus in Western Australia. Botryosphaeria australis is a newly described species, recently found causing cankers on Acacia spp. in eastern Australia. However, during a routine survey, B. australis was found to be the predominant species associated with E. globulus plantations and native Eucalyptus spp. in Western Australia. In this study, six short simple repeat markers were used to evaluate genetic diversity and gene flow between collections of B. australis from native eucalypt forest and E. globulus plantations at two locations in south‐western Australia. In both cases, there was no restriction to gene flow between the plantations and the adjacent native forest. Botryosphaeria australis has now been isolated from a wide range of hosts across south‐western Australia and was not isolated from E. globulus in Tasmania or South Australia. This extensive distribution and host range suggests B. australis is native to Western Australia. This study demonstrates the ability of a pathogen to move between plantation and forests.     

Development of the gametophytes, flower, and floral vasculature in Cochliostema odoratissimum (Commelinaceae)

Flowers of Cochliostema odoratissimum are trimerous with three fertile stamens, three unequal antherless staminodes. and three connate carpels. The fertile stamens are on one side of die flower and united by their filaments, forming a compound structure that curves to the flower's right as the flower opens. The thecae arc longitudinally dehiscent, spirally coiled, and enveloped by pctaloid extensions of the filaments of the two lateral stamens contributing to the three-staminate structure. Anther wall development is of the monocotyledonous type. Tapetal raphides are formed and appear to be widespread in CCommelinaceae. Also known from Philydraceae and. perhaps. Haemodoraccae, tapetal raphides and their taxonomic distribution may be of phylogenetic utilitv. Microsporogcnesis is successive, forming both isobilateral and decussate tetrads. Pollen is shed as single binucleatc grains. Each ovary locule contains ten to twelve hemianatropous, crassinucellar. bitegmic ovules on axile placentae. The micropyle is formed by both the inner integument and one side of the outer integument. Megagamctophyte development is of the Polygonum type. The mature megagamctophyte consists of an egg apparatus, fusion nucleus, and three antipodals. the latter showing signs of degeneration. The salient features of the floral vasculature are the same as in the few other commclinaceous species for winch complete data are available. Relative to the floral vasculature in the other species, differences in the vasculature lie primarily in the presence and origin of lateral carpel bundles and in the number of sepal and ovule traces.     

Brood guarding in a bethylid wasp

Abstract.

• 1 Atypical of the parasitoid Hymenoptera, female Goniozus nephantidis Muesebeck remain with offspring until they pupate. This behaviour will only have evolved if the consequent reduction in fecundity is outweighed by fitness returns.
• 2 G.nephantidis competes for hosts with conspecific and non-conspecific parasitoids. The effectiveness of G.nephantidis at deterring superparasitism and multiparasitism is tested. Brood survivorships were compared when G.nephantidis and Bracon hebetor Say intrude on hosts with the mother present and absent and with offspring at different developmental stages.
• 3 Laying by the intruder reduced brood survivorship. Guarding reduced oviposition on unparasitized hosts by intruding females, and prevented superparasitism of hosts with egg broods. Hosts with larval broods were rarely superparasitized. Multiparasitism was common except on hosts with guarded larval broods, but even here survivorship was reduced.
• 4 Competitive asymmetries determined the outcome of contests for possession of host resources.
• 5 The costs of remaining seem at least partially offset by the prevention of oviposition by competing parasitoids.

     

Genome‐wide association mapping and biochemical markers reveal that seed ageing and longevity are intricately affected by genetic background and developmental and environmental conditions in barley

Globally, over 7.4 million accessions of crop seeds are stored in gene banks, and conservation of genotypic variation is pivotal for breeding. We combined genetic and biochemical approaches to obtain a broad overview of factors that influence seed storability and ageing in barley (Hordeum vulgare). Seeds from a germplasm collection of 175 genotypes from four continents grown in field plots with different nutrient supply were subjected to two artificial ageing regimes. Genome‐wide association mapping revealed 107 marker trait associations, and hence, genotypic effects on seed ageing. Abiotic and biotic stresses were found to affect seed longevity. To address aspects of abiotic, including oxidative, stress, two major antioxidant groups were analysed. No correlation was found between seed deterioration and the lipid‐soluble tocochromanols, nor with oil, starch and protein contents. Conversely, the water‐soluble glutathione and related thiols were converted to disulphides, indicating a strong shift towards more oxidizing intracellular conditions, in seeds subjected to long‐term dry storage at two temperatures or to two artificial ageing treatments. The data suggest that intracellular pH and (bio)chemical processes leading to seed deterioration were influenced by the type of ageing or storage. Moreover, seed response to ageing or storage treatment appears to be significantly influenced by both maternal environment and genetic background.