Biopriming of maize seeds with plant growth-promoting bacteria isolated from the earthworm Aporrectodea molleri: effect on seed germination and seedling growth.

Earthworms have become a potential source of multi-beneficial bacteria and effective bioinoculants. Seed biopriming is an efficient inoculation method to apply bacteria prior to sowing, which enhances the chances of bacterial candidates to colonize the rhizosphere and/or establish a liaison with the plant. In this study, we evaluated plant growth-promoting traits of bacterial strains isolated from the earthworm's Aporrectodea molleri chloragogenous tissue. In addition, we investigated their prospective use as biopriming agents to enhance Zea mays germination and seedling growth. Results were subjected to principal component analysis for potential correlations between the studied parameters. The bacterial strains displayed different in vitro plant growth-promoting characteristics and were efficient when applied in vivo as they significantly increased maize germination rate (26-78%), root elongation (67-84%), seedlings fresh weight and dry weight. Aeromonas encheleia TC22 was the most significant strain to influence germination due to its high ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid, and along with Pseudomonas azotoformans TC1, they were the most proficient at enhancing seedling root elongation and biomass, which was significantly correlated with their in vitro plant growth-promoting traits. Our findings indicate that isolates TC22 and TC1 are potent bio-primers for maize seeds and should be tested further for their use as biopriming inoculants.

Comparison of laboratory findings in patients with glomerulonephritis classified according to histopathologic diagnosis.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to assess whether laboratory investigations have predictional values for histopathological diagnosis of glomerulonephritis before performing renal biopsy. METHODS: The study enrolled 452 patients, who underwent kidney biopsy and were examined retrospectively; 128 patients with the histopathological diagnosis of glomerulonephritis were included in the study. Serum CRP, albumin, uric acid levels, 24 hour urine protein presence, leucocyte count, C3, C4, IgG, IgA and IgM levels were assessed. RESULTS: The most common diagnosis of glomerulonephritis was IgAN with the percentage of 29.7% within the groups. Male gender was predominant except lupus group. Only the ones with crescentic glomerulonephritis had higher CRP levels. In 20% of patients with IgAN, in 8.3% of the ones with MN, in 35% of crescentic group, in 42% of FSGS group, in 30% of patients with MPGN and in 33% of the ones with lupus nephritis uric acid levels were found as elevated. In IgAN, FSGS and lupus nephritis normoalbuminemia and nephritic proteinuria, in MN and crescentic glomerulonephritis hypoalbuminemia, nephrotic proteinuria, in MPGN hypoalbuminemia, nephritic proteinuria were established. Serum Ig G levels were lower in MN and MPGN. Serum IgA levels were found as elevated in IgAN. Serum C4 levels were found as lower in lupus nephritis and MPGN. CONCLUSION: In patients admitted in clinical picture of glomerulopathy, since measurements of serum CRP, albumin, uric acid, C3, C4,IgG, IgA, IgM levels, leucocyte count and 24 hour urine protein amount can lead to predict the histopathological diagnosis, their significance in routine investigations has been suggested also in our study.

A 45 X male patient with 7q distal deletion and rearrangement with SRY gene translocation: a case report.

Here we present a male newborn with multiple congenital anomalies who also has an extremely rare form of testicular disorder of sex development (DSD). His karyotype was 45X, without any mosaicism. SRY gene was positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and rearranged on distal part of the 7th chromosome by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. SRY, normally located on the Y chromosome, is the most important gene that plays a role in the development of male sex. SRY gen may be translocated onto another chromosome, mostly X chromosome in the XX testicular DSD. On the other hand very few cases of 45 X testicular DSD were published to date. Other clinical manifestations of our patient were compatible with distal 7 q deletion syndrome. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case of 45 X testicular DSD with SRY gene rearranged on the 7th autosomal chromosome.

Persistent dystonia induced by fluoxetine.

Serotonin-selective re-uptake inhibitors are prescribed widely because they are regarded as having less severe side-effects compared with tricyclics and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. With this popularity, increasing attention has been drawn to their adverse effects. Development of extrapyramidal symptoms has been reported in some patients while taking fluoxetine, a commonly used serotonin-selective re-uptake inhibitor. Here, we report a case of persistent dystonia, thought to be associated with short-term fluoxetine use, which required treatment with botulinum toxin type A.