First Report of Peach Scab Caused by Cladosporium tenuissimum in Mexico.

Peach (Prunus persica) is one of the most popular stone fruits in the world. From 2019 to 2022, typical scab symptoms were observed on 70% of peach fruits in a commercial orchard in Tepeyahualco, Puebla, Mexico (19°30'38"N 97°30'57"W). Fruit symptoms are black circular lesions of 0.3 mm in diameter. The fungus was isolated from symptomatic fruit pieces that were surface sterilized with 1% sodium hypochlorite for 30 s, rinsed in autoclaved distilled water three times, placed on PDA medium, and incubated at 28°C in darkness for 9 days. Cladosporium-like colonies were isolated. Pure cultures were obtained by single spore culture. Colonies on PDA showed aerial mycelium abundant, smoke-grey, fluffy, and with margin glabrous to feathery. Conidiophores were solitary, long, intercalary conidia narrow erect, macro- and micronematous, straight or slightly flexuous, cylindrical-oblong, olivaceous-brown, and often subnodulose. Conidia (n= 50) catenate in branched chains, obovoid to limoniform, sometimes globose, aseptate, olivaceous-brown, apically rounded, 3.1 to 5.1 × 2.5 to 3.4 µm. Secondary ramoconidia (n= 50) were fusiform to cylindrical, smooth-walled, 0-1-septate, pale brown or pale olivaceous-brown, measuring 9.1 to 20.8 × 2.9 to 4.8 µm. Morphology was consistent to that described for Cladosporium tenuissimum (Bensch et al. 2012; 2018). A representative isolate was deposited in the Culture Collection of Phytopathogenic Fungi of the Department of Agricultural Parasitology at the Chapingo Autonomous University under the accession number UACH-Tepe2. To further confirm the morphological identification, total DNA was extracted using the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide method (Doyle and Doyle 1990). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, partial sequences of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-α) and actin (act) genes were amplified by PCR, and sequenced using the primer pairs ITS5/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), EF1-728F/986R, and ACT-512F/783R (Carbone and Kohn 1999), respectively. The sequences were deposited in GenBank under the accession numbers OL851529 (ITS), OM363733 (EF1-α), and OM363734 (act). BLASTn searches in GenBank showed 100% identity with available sequences of Cladosporium tenuissimum accession (ITS: MH810309; EF1-α: OL504967; act: MK314650). A phylogenetic analysis using the maximum likelihood method placed isolate UACH-Tepe2 in the same clade as C. tenuissimum. To verify the pathogenicity of the fungus, 20 healthy peach fruits were inoculated with four drops of 15 µl of a conidial suspension (1 × 106 spores /ml). Ten control fruit were treated with sterilized water. All the fruits were kept in a moist chamber at 25°C for 10 days. Circular and necrotic lesions were produced eight days after inoculation, whereas control fruits remained healthy. Pathogenicity test was conducted three times with similar results. Fungal colonies were reisolated from the artificially inoculated fruit, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. Cladosporium tenuissimum has been previously reported to cause diseases on strawberry, cashew, papaya, and passionfruit in Brazil (Rosado et al. 2019; Santos et al. 2020), as well as diseases on pitaya, hydrangea, and carnation in China (Xu et al. 2020; Li et al. 2021; Xie et al. 2021). Cladosporium carpophilum is reported as the causal agent of peach scab. The environmental conditions for the development of C. carpophilum are 20-30 °C in warm humid areas (Lawrence and Zehr 1982), however, in this case the infection by C. tenuissinum occurred in a temperate semi-dry climate, with temperatures of 5 -15 °C and R.H. less than 50 % with an incidence of 80 %. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Cladosporium tenuissimum causing peach scab in Mexico and worldwide.

New multifunctional AChE inhibitor drug prototypes protect against Aß-induced memory deficit.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most incident neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by accumulation of extracellular amyloid-ß (Aß), intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, and cognitive impairment. The current available treatments are mainly based on the use of reversible acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, which only ameliorate the cognitive deficits. However, it is important to develop disease-modifying drugs with neuroprotective effects in order to hamper the progression of the disease. Here, we describe the effect of four promising new drugs with additional protective characteristics on AD-associated memory changes. C57Bl/6 mice treated with the compounds received an intra-hippocampal injection of Aß1-40 and were submitted to the novel object recognition test, to evaluate memory recovery. All the compounds prevented memory loss. Compounds PQM-56 (4c) and PQM-67 (4g) showed the best profile of memory recovery, representing potential drug candidates for AD treatment.

Cannabinoid receptor 1/2 double-knockout mice develop epilepsy.

The endocannabinoid system has gained attention as an important modulator of activity in the central nervous system. Initial studies focused on cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), which is widely expressed in the brain, but recent work also implicates cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) in modulating neuronal activity. Both receptors are capable of reducing neuronal activity, generating interest in cannabinoid receptor agonists as potential anticonvulsants. CB1 (Cnr1) and CB2 (Cnr2) single-knockout mice have been generated, with the former showing heightened seizure sensitivity, but not overt seizures. Given overlapping and complementary functions of CB1 and CB2 receptors, we queried whether double-knockout mice would show an exacerbated neurological phenotype. Strikingly, 30% of double-knockout mice exhibited provoked behavioral seizures, and 80% were found to be epileptic following 24/7 video-electroencephalographic monitoring. Single-knockout animals did not exhibit seizures. These findings highlight the importance of the endocannabinoid system for maintaining network stability.

Anticonvulsant effect of cannabidiol in the pentylenetetrazole model: Pharmacological mechanisms, electroencephalographic profile, and brain cytokine levels.

Cannabidiol (CBD), the main nonpsychotomimetic compound from Cannabis sativa, inhibits experimental seizures in animal models and alleviates certain types of intractable epilepsies in patients. Its pharmacological profile, however, is still uncertain. Here we tested the hypothesis that CBD anticonvulsant mechanisms are prevented by cannabinoid (CB1 and CB2) and vanilloid (TRPV1) receptor blockers. We also investigated its effects on electroencephalographic (EEG) activity and hippocampal cytokines in the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) model. Pretreatment with CBD (60mg/kg) attenuated seizures induced by intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, and intravenous PTZ administration in mice. The effects were reversed by CB1, CB2, and TRPV1 selective antagonists (AM251, AM630, and SB366791, respectively). Additionally, CBD delayed seizure sensitization resulting from repeated PTZ administration (kindling). This cannabinoid also prevented PTZ-induced EEG activity and interleukin-6 increase in prefrontal cortex. In conclusion, the robust anticonvulsant effects of CBD may result from multiple pharmacological mechanisms, including facilitation of endocannabinoid signaling and TRPV1 mechanisms. These findings advance our understanding on CBD inhibition of seizures, EEG activity, and cytokine actions, with potential implications for the development of new treatments for certain epileptic syndromes.

Postictal alterations induced by intrahippocampal injection of pilocarpine in C57BL/6 mice.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common form of epilepsy in adults. The pilocarpine (PILO) experimental model of TLE portrays behavioral and pathophysiological changes in rodents that are very similar to those found in humans with TLE. However, this model is associated with an unfortunate high mortality rate. Studies have shown that intrahippocampal injection of PILO, while having a much smaller mortality rate, induces status epilepticus (SE) that secondarily leads to TLE. To the best of our knowledge, the present study was the first to evaluate the cognitive and histological alterations 72h after intrahippocampal microinjection of PILO in C57BL/6 mice. Seventy percent of mice developed status epilepticus (SE) after PILO administration, and all animals survived after SE. Seventy-two hours after SE, mice presented memory impairment in both Novel Object Recognition (recognition index - vehicle: 67.57±4.46% vs PILO: 52.33±3.29%) and Contextual Fear Conditioning (freezing time - vehicle: 203±20.43 vs PILO: 107.80±25.17s) tasks. Moreover, using Nissl and NeuN staining, we observed in PILO-treated mice a significant decrease in cell viability and an increase in neuronal loss in all three hippocampal regions analyzed, cornus ammonis (CA) 1, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG), in comparison with the control group. Additionally, using Iba-1 staining, we observed in PILO-treated mice a significant increase in microglial proliferation in CA1, CA3, and DG of the hippocampus. Therefore, intrahippocampal PILO microinjection is an efficient route to induce SE and acute postictal epileptogenic-like alterations in C57BL/6 mice.

Elevated Prostaglandin E2 Synthesis Is Associated with Clinical and Radiological Disease Severity in Cystic Fibrosis.

Background: Previous studies found high but very variable levels of tetranor-PGEM and PGDM (urine metabolites of prostaglandin (PG) E2 and PGD2, respectively) in persons with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). This study aims to assess the role of cyclooxygenase COX-1 and COX-2 genetic polymorphisms in PG production and of PG metabolites as potential markers of symptoms' severity and imaging findings. Methods: A total of 30 healthy subjects and 103 pwCF were included in this study. Clinical and radiological CF severity was evaluated using clinical scoring methods and chest computed tomography (CT), respectively. Urine metabolites were measured using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Variants in the COX-1 gene (PTGS1 639 C>A, PTGS1 762+14delA and COX-2 gene: PTGS2-899G>C (-765G>C) and PTGS2 (8473T>C) were also analyzed. Results: PGE-M and PGD-M urine concentrations were significantly higher in pwCF than in controls. There were also statistically significant differences between clinically mild and moderate disease and severe disease. Patients with bronchiectasis and/or air trapping had higher PGE-M levels than patients without these complications. The four polymorphisms did not associate with clinical severity, air trapping, bronchiectasis, or urinary PG levels. Conclusions: These results suggest that urinary PG level testing can be used as a biomarker of CF severity. COX genetic polymorphisms are not involved in the variability of PG production.

Assessment of Cellulose Nanofiber-Based Elastase Biosensors to Inflammatory Disease as a Function of Spacer Length and Fluorescence Response.

Inflammatory disease biomarker detection has become a high priority in point-of-care diagnostic research in relation to chronic wounds, with a variety of sensor-based designs becoming available. Herein, two primary aspects of biosensor design are examined: (1) assessment of a cellulose nanofiber (CNF) matrix derived from cotton ginning byproducts as a sensor transducer surface; and (2) assessment of the relation of spacer length and morphology between the CNF cellulose backbone and peptide fluorophore as a function of sensor activity for porcine pancreatic and human neutrophil elastases. X-ray crystallography, specific surface area, and pore size analyses confirmed the suitability of CNF as a matrix for wound care diagnostics. Based upon the normalized degree of substitution, a pegylated-linker connecting CNF transducer substrate to peptide fluorophore showed the greatest fluorescence response, compared to short- and long-chain alkylated linkers.

Glycine transporter-1 inhibition by NFPS promotes neuroprotection against striatal damage models.

The striatum, an essential component of the brain's motor and reward systems, plays a pivotal role in a wide array of cognitive processes. Its dysfunction is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD), leading to profound motor and cognitive deficits. These conditions are often related to excitotoxicity, primarily due to overactivation of NMDA receptors (NMDAR). In the synaptic cleft, glycine transporter type 1 (GlyT1) controls the glycine levels, a NMDAR co-agonist, which modulates NMDAR function. This research explored the neuroprotective potential of NFPS, a GlyT1 inhibitor, in murine models of striatal injury. Employing models of neurotoxicity induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (PD model) and quinolinic acid (HD model), we assessed the effectiveness of NFPS pre-treatment in maintaining the integrity of striatal neurons and averting neuronal degeneration. The results indicated that NFPS pre-treatment conferred significant neuroprotection, reducing neuronal degeneration, protecting dopaminergic neurons, and preserving dendritic spines within the striatum. Additionally, this pre-treatment notably mitigated motor impairments resulting from striatal damage. The study revealed that GlyT1 inhibition led to substantial changes in the ratios of NMDAR subunits GluN2A/GluN1 and GluN2B/GluN1, 24 h after NFPS treatment. These findings underscore the neuroprotective efficacy of GlyT1 inhibition, proposing it as a viable therapeutic strategy for striatum-related damage.

Genetic ablation of the isoform γ of PI3K decreases antidepressant efficacy of ketamine in male mice.

About one-third of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients demonstrate unresponsiveness to classic antidepressants, and even the clinical efficacy of fast-acting drugs such as ketamine varies significantly among patients with treatment-resistant depression. Nevertheless, the lack of suitable animal models that mimic a possible ketamine-resistant phenotype challenges the understanding of resistance to drug treatment. In this study, we showed that PI3Kγ knock-out (KO) mice do not respond to classical doses of ketamine and classical antidepressants. PI3Kγ KO mice were unresponsive to both the rapid and sustained antidepressant-like effects of a single dose of ketamine in the forced swimming test. Additionally, they were unresponsive to the antidepressant-like effects induced by the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine. However, acute pharmacological inhibition of PI3Kγ did not block the antidepressant-like effect of ketamine, showing that a chronic deficiency of the PI3Kγ-mediated pathway is necessary for the effects of classic doses of ketamine and antidepressants. Therefore, we propose that PI3Kγ participates in the antidepressant activity and is likely implicated in the neurobiology and phenotype observed in patients with MDD who demonstrate treatment resistance.

Anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and cytotoxic effects of the methanol extract of Cecropia pachystachya Trécul.

Cecropia pachystachya is widely used in the traditional medicine as anti-inflammatory, antitusive, expectorant, antiasthmatic and hypoglycemic. It is also commercially available to treat skin cancer. To validate some of the popular uses of this species, its methanol leaves extract (CPM) was tested for anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and cytotoxic effects. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by croton oil-induced ear edema test. When used orally, the anti-inflammatory effect of CPM at 300 mg/kg was similar to that of indomethacin with 53% inhibition of the ear edema. Also, results on topical treatment were similar to that of dexamethasone with 83% inhibition of the edema. To evaluate the antinociceptive activity, acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin-induced pain tests were employed. CPM (100 and 300 mg/kg) reduced the number of writhing by 61% and 67%, respectively. In both doses, the activity was comparable to the reference drug, indomethacin. The oral administration of CPM was ineffective in the first phase of formalin test but exhibited great effects on the second phase decreasing the licking time by 85% at 300 mg/kg. The cytotoxic potential of CPM was also investigated against HL60, HL60.bcl2 and Jurkat tumor cell lines and showed an inhibition of more than 50% of cell proliferation. The flavones orientin and isoorientin were detected in CPM.

Heavy metal and phenol adsorptive properties of biochars from pyrolyzed switchgrass and woody biomass in correlation with surface properties.

In this work, the surface structures of biochars, derived from three types of biomass, switchgrass (SG), hardwood (HW) and softwood (SW) through either fast pyrolysis (FP) in a fluidized-bed reactor (at 500 °C) or slow pyrolysis (at 500° and 700 °C), were studied in detail, and compared with that of the activated carbons obtained by steam activation of the slow pyrolyzed biochars (at 500 °C). The surface acidic functional groups were determined quantitatively by the Boehm Titration method. The adsorptive properties of heavy metals, Zn(2+) and Cu(2+) onto the biochars and the activated carbons were investigated by the adsorption isotherms and SEM images, and correlated with the surface properties. ATR-FTIR and GC techniques were used to analyze the adsorptive behavior of phenol onto the biochars and activated carbons, and the results demonstrated that phenol adsorption capability is directly proportional to the micropore surface area as well as the combined level of the accessible carboxylic and lactonic groups. The relative adsorption capacity with respect to the biomass precursor follows the order: SW > HW > SG.

Effect of continuous sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar application on rainfed cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) growth, yield and lint quality in the humid Mississippi delta.

Optimizing soil health through soil amendments is a promising strategy for enhancing rainwater efficiency for stabilizing crop production. Biochar, obtained by torrefaction of sugarcane bagasse, a byproduct from sugar mills, has a high potential for its use as a soil amendment, which can boost crop yields, but needs further field trials for its adoption in farming systems. A field study was conducted during 2019-2021 at Stoneville, Mississippi, to assess rainfed cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production under four biochar levels (0, 10, 20, and 40 t ha-1) on Dundee silt loam soil. The effects of biochar on cotton growth and lint yield and quality were examined. Biochar levels had no significant impact on cotton lint and seed yield for the first two years. Still, in the third year, a significant increase in lint yield by 13 and 21.7% was recorded at 20 and 40 t ha-1 biochar levels, respectively. In the third year, lint yields were 1523, 1586, 1721, and 1854 kg ha-1 at 0, 10, 20 and 40 t ha-1 biochar levels, respectively. Similarly, cotton seed yield increased by 10.8% and 13.4% in 20 and 40 t ha-1 biochar plots. This study demonstrated that successive biochar applications at 20 or 40 t ha-1 can enhance cotton lint and seed yields under rainfed conditions. These improved yields with biochar did not produce increased net returns due to the increased production costs. Many lint quality parameters were unaffected except for micronaire, fiber strength and fiber length. However, potential long-term benefits of enhanced cotton production from biochar application beyond the length of the study merit further investigation. Additionally, biochar application is more relevant when accrued carbon credits through carbon sequestration outweigh the increased production costs due to biochar application.

Psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the physical activity parenting practices questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including regular physical activity, is often part of interventions targeting childhood overweight and obesity. However, to properly inform the objectives of the intervention, reliable psychometric measures are needed to better understand children's and their families necessities and characteristics. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Physical Activity Parenting Practices questionnaire in a community sample of Portuguese parents of children aged 5-10, assess measurement invariance across children's weight status, and construct validity. METHODS: Five hundred three parents completed the Portuguese version of the Physical Activity Parenting Practices (PAPP) questionnaire, a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire, and the Lifestyle Behavior Checklist. A subsample (n = 125) completed the PAPP questionnaire 1 month later. Data analyses were performed using R's lavaan (version 0.6-12) and psych (version 2.2.9) packages. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analyses revealed good psychometric properties for the PAPP's single-factor Encouragement scale and the three-factor Discouragement scale. Configural, metric, and scalar invariance were found across parents of children with different weight statuses for both scales' factor structures. Internal reliability ranged from α = .64 to α = .89, and test-retest reliability ranged from r = .57 to r = .74. CONCLUSIONS: The constructs evaluated by PAPP questionnaire revealed adequate validity. The Portuguese version of the PAPP questionnaire is a reliable measure to assess relevant physical activity parenting practices, capable of differentiating the practices of parents with children of different weight statuses, and useful for both research and intervention purposes.

Role of prostaglandins in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.

Increasing data demonstrates that inflammation participates in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. Among the different inflammatory mediators involved, prostaglandins play an important role. The effects induced by prostaglandins might be mediated by activation of their known receptors or by nonclassical mechanisms. In the present paper, we discuss the evidences that link prostaglandins, as well as the enzymes that produce them, to some neurological diseases.

Chicken manure biochar as liming and nutrient source for acid Appalachian soil.

Acid weathered soils often require lime and fertilizer application to overcome nutrient deficiencies and metal toxicity to increase soil productivity. Slow-pyrolysis chicken manure biochars, produced at 350 and 700°C with and without subsequent steam activation, were evaluated in an incubation study as soil amendments for a representative acid and highly weathered soil from Appalachia. Biochars were mixed at 5, 10, 20, and 40 g kg into a Gilpin soil (fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Typic Hapludult) and incubated in a climate-controlled chamber for 8 wk, along with a nonamended control and soil amended with agronomic dolomitic lime (AgLime). At the end of the incubation, soil pH, nutrient availability (by Mehlich-3 and ammonium bicarbonate diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid [AB-DTPA] extractions), and soil leachate composition were evaluated. Biochar effect on soil pH was process- and rate-dependent. Biochar increased soil pH from 4.8 to 6.6 at the high application rate (40 g kg), but was less effective than AgLime. Biochar produced at 350°C without activation had the least effect on soil pH. Biochar increased soil Mehlich-3 extractable micro- and macronutrients. On the basis of unit element applied, increase in pyrolysis temperature and biochar activation decreased availability of K, P, and S compared to nonactivated biochar produced at 350°C. Activated biochars reduced AB-DTPA extractable Al and Cd more than AgLime. Biochar did not increase NO in leachate, but increased dissolved organic carbon, total N and P, PO, SO, and K at high application rate (40 g kg). Risks of elevated levels of dissolved P may limit chicken manure biochar application rate. Applied at low rates, these biochars provide added nutritional value with low adverse impact on leachate composition.

Biochar: a synthesis of its agronomic impact beyond carbon sequestration.

Biochar has been heralded as an amendment to revitalize degraded soils, improve soil carbon sequestration, increase agronomic productivity, and enter into future carbon trading markets. However, scientific and economic technicalties may limit the ability of biochar to consistently deliver on these expectations. Past research has demonstrated that biochar is part of the black carbon continuum with variable properties due to the net result of production (e.g., feedstock and pyrolysis conditions) and postproduction factors (storage or activation). Therefore, biochar is not a single entity but rather spans a wide range of black carbon forms. Biochar is black carbon, but not all black carbon is biochar. Agronomic benefits arising from biochar additions to degraded soils have been emphasized, but negligible and negative agronomic effects have also been reported. Fifty percent of the reviewed studies reported yield increases after black carbon or biochar additions, with the remainder of the studies reporting alarming decreases to no significant differences. Hardwood biochar (black carbon) produced by traditional methods (kilns or soil pits) possessed the most consistent yield increases when added to soils. The universality of this conclusion requires further evaluation due to the highly skewed feedstock preferences within existing studies. With global population expanding while the amount of arable land remains limited, restoring soil quality to nonproductive soils could be key to meeting future global food production, food security, and energy supplies; biochar may play a role in this endeavor. Biochar economics are often marginally viable and are tightly tied to the assumed duration of agronomic benefits. Further research is needed to determine the conditions under which biochar can provide economic and agronomic benefits and to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms responsible for these benefits.

Influence of biochar on nitrogen fractions in a coastal plain soil.

Interest in the use of biochar from pyrolysis of biomass to sequester C and improve soil productivity has increased; however, variability in physical and chemical characteristics raises concerns about effects on soil processes. Of particular concern is the effect of biochar on soil N dynamics. The effect of biochar on N dynamics was evaluated in a Norfolk loamy sand with and without NHNO. High-temperature (HT) (≥500°C) and low-temperature (LT) (≤400°C) biochars from peanut hull ( L.), pecan shell ( Wangenh. K. Koch), poultry litter (), and switchgrass ( L.) and a fast pyrolysis hardwood biochar (450-600°C) were evaluated. Changes in inorganic, mineralizable, resistant, and recalcitrant N fractions were determined after a 127-d incubation that included four leaching events. After 127 d, little evidence of increased inorganic N retention was found for any biochar treatments. The mineralizable N fraction did not increase, indicating that biochar addition did not stimulate microbial biomass. Decreases in the resistant N fraction were associated with the high pH and high ash biochars. Unidentified losses of N were observed with HT pecan shell, HT peanut hull, and HT and LT poultry litter biochars that had high pH and ash contents. Volatilization of N as NH in the presence of these biochars was confirmed in a separate short-term laboratory experiment. The observed responses to different biochars illustrate the need to characterize biochar quality and match it to soil type and land use.

Group Triple P Intervention Effects on Children and Parents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Supporting parents through the delivery of evidence-based parenting interventions (EBPI) is a way of promoting children's rights, given the known benefits to child development and family wellbeing. Group Triple P (GTP) is an EBPI suitable for parents of children aged 2-12 years, who experience parenting difficulties, and/or child behavior problems. Even though GTP has been intensively studied, information lacks on the magnitude of its effects, considering the risk of bias within and across prior research. To address this, a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration CRD42019085360) to evaluate the effects of GTP on child and parent outcomes at short- and longer-term was performed. Through a systematic search of a set of databases, 737 research papers were identified, and 11 trials were selected. The risk of bias within and across studies was evaluated. Significant positive effects of GTP were found immediately after the intervention for child behavior problems, dysfunctional parenting practices, parenting sense of competence, psychological adjustment, parental stress levels, conflict, and relationship quality. Six months after the intervention, positive effects were found only for child behavior problems. Data suggest that GTP might be an effective EBPI leading to positive family outcomes. Substantial risk of bias was found, highlighting the importance of improving the quality of research.

Cannabidiol effect in pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures depends on PI3K.

BACKGROUND: The phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) has previously shown to have anticonvulsant effects in preclinical and clinical studies. Recently, CBD has been approved to treat certain types of drug-resistant epileptic syndromes. However, the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway has been proposed to modulate seizures and might be recruited by CBD. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that the anticonvulsant effect of CBD involves PI3K in a seizure model induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). METHODS: We employed pharmacological and genetic approaches to inhibit PI3K and quantified its effects on seizure duration, latency, and number. RESULTS: PI3K genetic ablation increased the duration and number of seizures. CBD inhibited PTZ-induced seizures in mice. Genetic deletion of PI3K or pretreatment with the selective inhibitor LY294002 prevented CBD effects. CONCLUSION: Our data strengthen the hypothesis that the CBD anticonvulsant effect requires the PI3K signaling pathway.

ROS-scavenging-associated transcriptional and biochemical shifts during nectarine fruit development and ripening.

ROS are known as toxic by-products but also as important signaling molecules playing a key role in fruit development and ripening. To counteract the negative effects of ROS, plants and fruit own multiple ROS-scavenging mechanisms aiming to ensure a balanced ROS homeostasis. In the present study, changes in specific ROS (i.e. H2O2) as well as enzymatic (SOD, CAT, POX, APX) and non-enzymatic (phenylpropanoids, carotenoids and ascorbate) ROS-scavenging systems were investigated along four different stages of nectarine (cv. 'Diamond Ray') fruit development and ripening (39, 70, 94 and 121 DAFB) both at the metabolic (28 individual metabolites or enzymes) and transcriptional level (24 genes). Overall, our results demonstrate a complex ROS-related transcriptome and metabolome reprogramming during fruit development and ripening. At earlier fruit developmental stages an increase on the respiration rate is likely triggering an oxidative burst and resulting in the activation of specific ethylene response factors (ERF1). In turn, ROS-responsive genes or the biosynthesis of specific antioxidant compounds (i.e. phenylpropanoids) were highly expressed or accumulated at earlier fruit developmental stages (39-70 DAFB). Nonetheless, as the fruit develops, the decrease in the fruit respiration rate and the reduction of ERF1 genes leads to lower levels of most non-enzymatic antioxidants and higher accumulation of H2O2. Based on available literature and the observed accumulation dynamics of H2O2, it is anticipated that this compound may not only be a by-product of ROS-scavenging but also a signaling molecule accumulated during the ripening of nectarine fruit.