Trichothecenes and zearalenone production by fusarium species isolated from Argentinean black beans

Isolates of Fusarium species obtained from freshly harvested bean grains for human consumption collected from different Argentinean regions, were investigated for their ability to biosynthesise trichothecenes and zearalenone either on rice grains or beans. Low incidence of toxigenic fungi was observed. These mycotoxigenic species produced several toxins when grown on rice but none or little amount when cultured on beans. The results of this report suggest that contamination of Argentinean beans with Fusarium mycotoxins will not be common and therefore people would be at low mycotoxicosis risk through consumption of beans.     

Acetylcholinesterase mediated susceptibility of soldiers and workers of formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) to chlorpyrifos

Target site studies were undertaken to examine the difference in susceptibility of Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, workers and soldiers to chlorpyrifos. Workers exhibited significantly greater acetylcholinesterase activity per insect than soldiers (118.63 +/- 48.51 versus 47.98 +/- 22.59 mOD/min/insect equivalent). Likewise, enzyme activity (mean +/- SD) per milligram of protein was greater in workers than soldiers (440.30 +/- 267.43 versus 311.53 +/- 149.83 mOD/min/mg protein). The enzyme of soldiers was more sensitive to the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors eserine and chlorpyrifos-oxon than that of workers. The I50s of chlorpyrifos-oxon were 2.66 and 4.59 nM for soldiers and workers, respectively, whereas the I50s of eserine were 16.56 and 25.41 nM for soldiers and workers, respectively. The amount of protein was significantly higher in workers than in soldiers with mean values of 0.270 +/- 0.102 and 0.154 +/- 0.054 mg/insect equivalent, respectively. We suggest that the differential response of workers and soldiers to chlorpyrifos may be due to the difference in AChE sensitivity to inhibition and the amount of protein between them.     

Linkage mapping of powdery mildew and greenbug resistance genes on recombinant 1RS from 'Amigo' and 'Kavkaz' wheat-rye translocations of chromosome 1RS.1AL.

Cultivated rye (Secale cereale L., 2n = 2x = 14, RR) is an important source of genes for insect and disease resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L., 2n = 6x = 42). Rye chromosome arm 1RS of S. cereale 'Kavkaz' originally found as a 1BL.1RS translocation, carries genes for disease resistance (e.g., Lr26, Sr31, Yr9, and Pm8), while 1RS of the S. cereale 'Amigo' translocation (1RSA) carries a single resistance gene for greenbug (Schizaphis graminum Rondani) biotypes B and C and also carries additional disease-resistance genes. The purpose of this research was to identify individual plants that were recombinant in the homologous region of.1AL.1RSV and 1AL.1RSA using both molecular and phenotypic markers. Secale cereale 'Nekota' (1AL.1RSA) and S. cereale 'Pavon 76' (1AL.1RSV) were mated and the F1 was backcrossed to 'Nekota' (1AL.1AS) to generate eighty BC1F2:3 families (i.e., ('Nekota' 1AL.1RSA x 'Pavon 76' 1AL.1RSV) x 'Nekota' 1AL.1AS). These families were genotyped using the secalin-gliadin grain storage protein banding pattern generated with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to discriminate 1AL.1AS/1AL.1RS heterozygotes from the 1AL.1RSA+V and 1AL.1AS homozygotes. Segregation of the secalin locus and PCR markers based on the R173 family of rye specific repeated DNA sequences demonstrated the presence of recombinant 1AL.1RSA+V families. Powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis) and greenbug resistance genes on the recombinant 1RSA+V arm were mapped in relation to the Sec-1 locus, 2 additional protein bands, 3 SSRs, and 13 RFLP markers. The resultant linkage map of 1RS spanned 82.4 cM with marker order and spacing showing reasonable agreement with previous maps of 1RS. Fifteen markers lie within a region of 29.7 cM next to the centromere, yet corresponded to just 36% of the overall map length. The map position of the RFLP marker probe mwg68 was 10.9 cM distal to the Sec-1 locus and 7.8 cM proximal to the powdery mildew resistance locus. The greenbug resistance gene was located 2.7 cM proximal to the Sec-1 locus.     

The Impact of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) in Community Palliative Care Using a Stepped Wedge Cluster Trial

Family caregiving towards the end-of-life entails considerable emotional, social, financial and physical costs for caregivers. Evidence suggests that good support can improve caregiver psychological outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact of using the carer support needs assessment tool (CSNAT), as an intervention to identify and address support needs in end of life home care, on family caregiver outcomes. A stepped wedge design was used to trial the CSNAT intervention in three bases of Silver Chain Hospice Care in Western Australia, 2012-14. The intervention consisted of at least two visits from nurses (2-3 weeks apart) to identify, review and address caregivers’ needs. The outcome measures for the intervention and control groups were caregiver strain and distress as measured by the Family Appraisal of Caregiving Questionnaire (FACQ-PC), caregiver mental and physical health as measured by SF-12v2, and caregiver workload as measured by extent of caregiver assistance with activities of daily living, at baseline and follow up. Total recruitment was 620. There was 45% attrition for each group between baseline and follow-up mainly due to patient deaths resulting in 322 caregivers completing the study (233 in the intervention group and 89 in the control group). At follow-up, the intervention group showed significant reduction in caregiver strain relative to controls, p=0.018, d=0.348 (95% CI 0.25 to 0.41). Priority support needs identified by caregivers included knowing what to expect in the future, having time for yourself in the day and dealing with your feelings and worries. Despite the challenges at the clinician, organisational and trial levels, the CSNAT intervention led to an improvement in caregiver strain. Effective implementation of an evidence-informed and caregiver-led tool represents a necessary step towards helping palliative care providers better assess and address caregiver needs, ensuring adequate family caregiver support and reduction in caregiver strain.     

Changes in cellular levels of inositol polyphosphates during apoptosis

Accumulations of higher inositol polyphosphates, diphosphoinositol polyphosphates or pyrophosphates, have been implicated to mediate cellular apoptosis. Whether cellular levels of lower inositol phosphates (lower than inositol hexakisphosphates) change during apoptosis is not known, although these inositol phosphates are known to play crucial roles in a number of cellular signaling processes including calcium mobilization. Therefore, in this study, we have examined changes in cellular levels of inositol phosphates following metabolic labeling of these compounds by [³H]myo-inositol and induction of apoptosis. The levels of inositol mono- and bis-phosphates were increased, whereas the levels of inositol tris- and tetrakis-phosphates decreased significantly with an increasing rate of apoptosis induced by etoposide in a dose-dependent manner. NaF treatment, which increased the rate of apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner, also increased the levels of inositol mono- and bis-phosphates and drastically reduced the levels of inositol tris- and tetrakis-phosphates. Prior treatment with antimycin A, a strategy used to reverse the NaF-induced accumulations of higher InsPs, partially reduced the effects of NaF on apoptosis as well as the levels of lower InsPs. Taken together, our results suggest that cellular levels of lower InsPs are altered during apoptosis.     

The Spectrum of Fungal Infections with a Special Reference to Dermatophytoses in the Capital Area of Kuwait During 2000–2005: A Retrospective Analysis

Background  

Fungal infections constitute a major health problem all over the world. Signs and symptoms induced by various dermatophytic infections are difficult to distinguish clinically from each other. So, characterization by in vitro culture is required for appropriate diagnosis and treatment as well as to study the epidemiological characteristics in a region.     

Maintaining nitric oxide-induced airway relaxation with superoxide dismutase

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that the protective effect of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) against methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction is negated in airways subjected to hyperosmotic stress. In this study, hypothesizing that the impaired efficiency of iNO was caused by release of reactive oxygen radicals, we examined the effect of the radical scavenging enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD). METHODS: Hemodynamic and respiratory measurements were performed on anesthetized rabbits after (1) inhalation of methacholine (MCh), (2) iNO (80ppm), followed by MCh, (3) inhalation of hypertonic saline (HS), followed by iNO and MCh and (4) pre-treatment with inhalation of SOD, followed by HS, iNO and MCh. We analyzed plasma for a marker of oxidative stress, 8-iso-prostaglandin (PG)F(2alpha) and for a marker of activation of COX-mediated inflammatory cascades, PGF(2alpha) metabolite. RESULTS: Pre-treatment with SOD restored the bronchoprotective response to iNO in hyperosmotic airways. No direct effect was seen by SOD treatment on levels of 8-iso-PGF(2alpha), but this marker of oxidative stress correlated positively with increased bronchoconstriction. Hyperosmotic challenge elevated levels of PGF(2alpha) metabolite, and pre-treatment with SOD protected against this activation of the inflammatory cascade. CONCLUSION: SOD pre-treatment restores the relaxant effects of iNO in hyperosmotically challenged airways by attenuating oxidative stress and activation of COX-mediated inflammatory cascades.