Flow Sorting and Molecular Cytogenetic Identification of Individual Chromosomes of Dasypyrum villosum L. (H. villosa) by a Single DNA Probe

Dasypyrum villosum (L.) Candargy (sin. Haynaldia villosa) is an annual wild diploid grass species (2n = 2x = 14; genome VV) belonging to the Poaceae family, which is considered to be an important source of biotic and abiotic stress resistance genes for wheat breeding. Enhanced characterization of D. villosum chromosomes can facilitate exploitation of its gene pool and its use in wheat breeding programs. Here we present the cytogenetic identification of D. villosum chromosomes on slide by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), with the GAA simple sequence repeat (SSR) as a probe. We also describe the isolation and the flow cytometric analysis of D. villosum chromosomes in suspension, resulting in a distinguished flow karyotype. Chromosomes were flow sorted into three fractions, according their DNA content, one of which was composed of a single type of chromosome, namely 6 V, sorted with over 85% purity. Chromosome 6 V is known to carry genes to code for important resistance and seed storage characteristics, and its isolation represents a new source of genetic traits and specific markers useful for wheat improvement.     

Annual Acoustic Presence of Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) Offshore Eastern Sicily,Central Mediterranean Sea

In recent years, an increasing number of surveys have definitively confirmed the seasonal presence of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in highly productive regions of the Mediterranean Sea. Despite this, very little is yet known about the routes that the species seasonally follows within the Mediterranean basin and, particularly, in the Ionian area. The present study assesses for the first time fin whale acoustic presence offshore Eastern Sicily (Ionian Sea), throughout the processing of about 10 months of continuous acoustic monitoring. The recording of fin whale vocalizations was made possible by the cabled deep-sea multidisciplinary observatory, “NEMO-SN1”, deployed 25 km off the Catania harbor at a depth of about 2,100 meters. NEMO-SN1 is an operational node of the European Multidisciplinary Seafloor and water-column Observatory (EMSO) Research Infrastructure. The observatory was equipped with a low-frequency hydrophone (bandwidth: 0.05 Hz–1 kHz, sampling rate: 2 kHz) which continuously acquired data from July 2012 to May 2013. About 7,200 hours of acoustic data were analyzed by means of spectrogram display. Calls with the typical structure and patterns associated to the Mediterranean fin whale population were identified and monitored in the area for the first time. Furthermore, a background noise analysis within the fin whale communication frequency band (17.9–22.5 Hz) was conducted to investigate possible detection-masking effects. The study confirms the hypothesis that fin whales are present in the Ionian Sea throughout all seasons, with peaks in call detection rate during spring and summer months. The analysis also demonstrates that calls were more frequently detected in low background noise conditions. Further analysis will be performed to understand whether observed levels of noise limit the acoustic detection of the fin whales vocalizations, or whether the animals vocalize less in the presence of high background noise.     

Environmental light and endogenous antioxidants as the main determinants of non-cancer ocular diseases

The human eye is constantly exposed to sunlight and artificial lighting. Exogenous sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as UV light, visible light, ionizing radiation, chemotherapeutics, and environmental toxins contribute to oxidative damage in ocular tissues. Long-term exposure to these insults places the aging eye at considerable risk for pathological consequences of oxidative stress. Furthermore, in eye tissues, mitochondria are an important endogenous source of ROS. Over time, all ocular structures, from the tear film to the retina, undergo oxidative stress, and therefore, the antioxidant defenses of each tissue assume the role of a safeguard against degenerative ocular pathologies. The ocular surface and cornea protect the other ocular tissues and are significantly exposed to oxidative stress of environmental origin. Overwhelming of antioxidant defenses in these tissues clinically manifests as pathologies including pterygium, corneal dystrophies, and endothelial Fuch's dystrophy. The crystalline lens is highly susceptible to oxidative damage in aging because its cells and their intracellular proteins are not turned over or replaced, thus providing the basis for cataractogenesis. The trabecular meshwork, which is the anterior chamber tissue devoted to aqueous humor drainage, has a particular susceptibility to mitochondrial oxidative injury that affects its endothelium and leads to an intraocular pressure increase that marks the beginning of glaucoma. Photo-oxidative stress can cause acute or chronic retinal damage. The pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration involves oxidative stress and death of the retinal pigment epithelium followed by death of the overlying photoreceptors. Accordingly, converging evidence indicates that mutagenic mechanisms of environmental and endogenous sources play a fundamental pathogenic role in degenerative eye diseases.     

ICOS Gene Polymorphisms (IVS1 + 173 T/C and c. 1624 C/T) in Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome Patients: Analysis of ICOS Expression

Background: Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disease, which affects exocrine glands. T cell activation is a trigger mechanism in the immune response. Hyperreactivity of T cells and antibody production are features in pSS. ICOS can be critical in the pathogenesis of pSS. Methods: A total of 134 pSS patients and 134 control subjects (CS) were included. Genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP. ICOS mRNA expression was quantified by real-time PCR, and CD4+ ICOS+ T cells were determined by flow cytometry. Results: The ICOS IVS1 + 173 T>C polymorphisms were not associated with susceptibility to pSS (p = 0.393, CI = 0.503–1.311). However, the c.1624 C>T polymorphism was associated with a reduction in the risk of development of pSS (p = 0.015, CI = 0.294–0.884). An increase in ICOS mRNA expression in patients was observed (3.7-fold). Furthermore, pSS patients showed an increase in membranal-ICOS expression (mICOS). High expression of mICOS (MFI) was associated with lymphocytic infiltration. Conclusions: The IVS1 + 173 polymorphism is not a genetic marker for the development of pSS, while c.1624 T allele was associated with a low risk. However, elevated mICOS expression in pSS patients with high lymphocytic infiltration was found. ICOS may have an important role in the immunopathogenesis of pSS and should be analyzed in T cell subsets in pSS patients as a possible disease marker.     

Effects of nitrogen starvation on the photosynthetic physiology of a tropical marine microalga Rhodomonas sp. (Cryptophyceae)

The effects of nitrogen starvation on biomass composition and photosynthetic function were examined in the marine cryptophyte Rhodomonas sp. Batch-cultured cells in N-sufficient medium showed a 2.5-fold increase in total carbohydrate content, and a 33% increase in cell volume when the cultures reached the stationary growth phase. These cultures also increased the ratio of phycoerythrin (PE)/hydrosoluble proteins from 6 to 22% by the 4th and 10th day of culture, respectively. In contrast, light-saturated photosynthetic activity (P_m) progressively decreased, and the value obtained at the beginning of the stationary phase was about 45% of that obtained for cells in the late exponential growth phase. Transfer to N-lacking medium caused a 3.2-fold increase in cell volume. N starvation also triggered a rapid decline in N-containing compounds such as hydrosoluble proteins and photosynthetic pigments, causing an almost complete loss of PE. The ratio of PE/hydrosoluble proteins decreased from 6 to 1% after 6 d of N deprivation. Furthermore, the PSII fluorescence capacity declined under N-starved conditions, which caused a pronounced decrease in both the P_m (circa 90%) and the apparent photosynthetic efficiency (circa 55%). Under these conditions, photosynthetically fixed carbon was used to synthesize large amounts of carbohydrates. We suggest that, in addition to the role of phycoerythrin as a light-harvesting pigment, Rhodomonas sp. responds to N-depleted conditions by mobilizing combined nitrogen from biliproteins.     

Spreading patterns of the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic

We investigate the dynamics of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1/S-OIV) pandemic by analyzing data obtained from World Health Organization containing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases of infections--by country--in a period of 69 days, from 26 April to 3 July, 2009. Specifically, we find evidence of exponential growth in the total number of confirmed cases and linear growth in the number of countries with confirmed cases. We also find that, i) at early stages, the cumulative distribution of cases among countries exhibits linear behavior on log-log scale, being well approximated by a power law decay; ii) for larger times, the cumulative distribution presents a systematic curvature on log-log scale, indicating a gradual change to lognormal behavior. Finally, we compare these empirical findings with the predictions of a simple stochastic model. Our results could help to select more realistic models of the dynamics of influenza-type pandemics.     

Prevention of violence against women and girls: A cost-effectiveness study across 6 low- and middle-income countries

BackgroundViolence against women and girls (VAWG) is a human rights violation with social, economic, and health consequences for survivors, perpetrators, and society. Robust evidence on economic, social, and health impact, plus the cost of delivery of VAWG prevention, is critical to making the case for investment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where health sector resources are highly constrained. We report on the costs and health impact of VAWG prevention in 6 countries.Methods and findingsWe conducted a trial-based cost-effectiveness analysis of VAWG prevention interventions using primary data from 5 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in sub-Saharan Africa and 1 in South Asia. We evaluated 2 school-based interventions aimed at adolescents (11 to 14 years old) and 2 workshop-based (small group or one to one) interventions, 1 community-based intervention, and 1 combined small group and community-based programme all aimed at adult men and women (18+ years old). All interventions were delivered between 2015 and 2018 and were compared to a do-nothing scenario, except for one of the school-based interventions (government-mandated programme) and for the combined intervention (access to financial services in small groups). We computed the health burden from VAWG with disability-adjusted life year (DALY). We estimated per capita DALYs averted using statistical models that reflect each trial’s design and any baseline imbalances. We report cost-effectiveness as cost per DALY averted and characterise uncertainty in the estimates with probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves (CEACs), which show the probability of cost-effectiveness at different thresholds. We report a subgroup analysis of the small group component of the combined intervention and no other subgroup analysis. We also report an impact inventory to illustrate interventions’ socioeconomic impact beyond health. We use a 3% discount rate for investment costs and a 1-year time horizon, assuming no effects post the intervention period. From a health sector perspective, the cost per DALY averted varies between US$222 (2018), for an established gender attitudes and harmful social norms change community-based intervention in Ghana, to US$17,548 (2018) for a livelihoods intervention in South Africa. Taking a societal perspective and including wider economic impact improves the cost-effectiveness of some interventions but reduces others. For example, interventions with positive economic impacts, often those with explicit economic goals, offset implementation costs and achieve more favourable cost-effectiveness ratios. Results are robust to sensitivity analyses. Our DALYs include a subset of the health consequences of VAWG exposure; we assume no mortality impact from any of the health consequences included in the DALYs calculations. In both cases, we may be underestimating overall health impact. We also do not report on participants’ health costs.ConclusionsWe demonstrate that investment in established community-based VAWG prevention interventions can improve population health in LMICs, even within highly constrained health budgets. However, several VAWG prevention interventions require further modification to achieve affordability and cost-effectiveness at scale. Broadening the range of social, health, and economic outcomes captured in future cost-effectiveness assessments remains critical to justifying the investment urgently required to prevent VAWG globally.

In a cost-effectiveness study, Dr. Giulia Ferrari and colleagues examine the costs and health impact of prevention of violence against women and girls in six low- and middle-income countries.