Strip intercropping with local crops increased Aconitum carmichaeli yield and soil quality.

Aconitum carmichaeli Debx. is a traditional Chinese medicine that is cultivated in China and Japan. However, the monoculturing of this herb substantially decreases soil quality. Therefore, scientific planting management is crucial for resolving the current problems in the cultivation of A. carmichaeli. In this study, we conducted a comparative study on the soil environmental characteristics, herb growth and quality of A. carmichaeli intercropping with five local crops in two different areas. Herb growth and quality, including biomass and secondary metabolites, and rhizosphere soil environmental characteristics were measured. The results showed that the intercropping with the five local crops substantially improved the A. carmichaeli biomass and polysaccharide content, decreased the disease index, and altered three monoester diterpenoid alkaloids and three diester diterpenoid alkaloids accumulations. The intercrops also increased the soil pH, nitrogen-cycling-gene abundances, and potentially beneficial microorganism abundances, and it also changed the soil nutrient levels. Moreover, these intercropping patterns could alleviate the continuous cropping obstacles of A. carmichaeli. According to a comprehensive evaluation of the A. carmichaeli growth and quality, as well as the soil quality, the best intercropping systems were the A. carmichaeli intercropping with rice, maize, and peanut. In summary, the strip-intercropping systems could improve the A. carmichaeli growth and soil quality, and be beneficial to the sustainable ecological planting of A. carmichaeli.

Characteristics of Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens Associated With Post-harvest Fuzi (Aconitum carmichaelii) Rot and Their Novel Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Detection Methods.

Fuzi (the lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx.) is a traditional Chinese medicine that is cultivated in more than eight provinces in China. However, it can be easily devastated by post-harvest rot, causing huge losses. Therefore, it is extremely important that the primary causal pathogens of post-harvest Fuzi rot are identified and appropriate detection methods for them are developed to prevent and control losses. In this study, two bacterial strains (X1 and X2) were isolated from rotten post-harvest Fuzi. Based on their morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics, housekeeping gene homologies, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) results, these isolates were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens. The pathogenicities of these isolates were confirmed by fulfilling Koch's postulates demonstrating that they were post-harvest Fuzi rot pathogens. Two loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) methods targeting the gyrase B subunit (gyrB) gene of P. aeruginosa and the phosphatidylinositol glycan C (pigC) gene of S. marcescens were successfully developed, and it was found that the target genes were highly specific to the two pathogens. These LAMP methods were used to detect P. aeruginosa and S. marcescens in 46 naturally occurring Fuzi and their associated rhizosphere soil samples of unknown etiology. The two bacterial assays were positive in some healthy and rotten samples and could be accomplished within 1 h at 65°C without the need for complicated, expensive instruments. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. aeruginosa and S. marcescens causing post-harvest Fuzi rot. The newly developed methods are expected to have applications in point-of-care testing for the two pathogens under different Fuzi planting procedures and will significantly contribute to the control and prevention of Fuzi rot.

Co-fermentation of glycerol and glucose by a co-culture system of engineered Escherichia coli strains for 1,3-propanediol production without vitamin B12 supplementation.

The necessity of costly co-enzyme B12 for the activity of glycerol dehydratase (GDHt) is considered as a major bottleneck in sustainable bioproduction of 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) from glycerol. Here, an E. coil Rosetta-dhaB1-dhaB2 strain was constructed by overexpressing a B12-independent GDHt (dhaB1) and its activating factor (dhaB2) from Clostridium butyricum. Subsequently, it was used in designing a co-culture with E. coli BL21-dhaT that overexpressed 1,3-PD oxidoreductase (dhaT), to produce 1,3-PD during co-fermentation of glycerol and glucose. The optimum initial ratio of BL21-dhaT to Rosetta-dhaB1-dhaB2 strains in the co-culture was 1.5. Compared to the fermentation of glycerol alone, co-fermentation approach provided 1.3-folds higher 1,3-PD. Finally, co-fermentation was done in a 10 L bioreactor that produced 41.65 g/L 1,3-PD, which corresponded to 0.69 g/L/h productivity and 0.67 mol/mol yield of 1,3-PD. Hence, the developed co-culture could produce 1,3-PD cost-effectively without requiring vitamin B12.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Miami-Dade County Following Hurricane Irma in 2017.

OBJECTIVE: The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County (DOH-Miami-Dade) investigated 106 reported carbon monoxide (CO) exposures over a 9-day timeframe after Hurricane Irma. This report evaluates risk factors for CO poisoning and the importance of heightened surveillance following natural disasters. METHODS: Data on CO poisoning cases from September 9 to 18, 2017 were extracted from Merlin, the Florida Department of Health Surveillance System. Medical records were obtained and follow-up interviews were conducted to collect data on the confirmed CO poisoning cases. Data were analyzed using SAS v9.4. RESULTS: Ninety-one of the 106 people exposed to CO met the case definition for CO poisoning: 64 confirmed, 7 probable, and 20 suspect cases. Eighty-eight percent of the affected individuals were evaluated in emergency departments and 11.7% received hyperbaric oxygen treatment. The most frequently reported symptoms included headache (53.3%), dizziness (50.7%), and nausea (46.7%). Three patients expired due to their exposure to CO. CONCLUSIONS: Post Hurricane Irma, the DOH-Miami-Dade investigated numerous cases for CO exposure. By understanding who is most likely to be impacted by CO and the impact of generators' location on people's health, education efforts can be tailored to the population most at risk and further CO exposures and related mortalities following natural disasters can be reduced. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:94-96).

Dominican Children with HIV not Receiving Antiretrovirals: Massage Therapy Influences their Behavior and Development.

Forty-eight children (M age = 4.8 years) infected with HIV/AIDS and living in the Dominican Republic were randomly assigned to a massage therapy or a play session control group. The children in the massage therapy group received two weekly 20-min massages for 12 weeks; the children in the control group participated in a play session (coloring, playing with blocks) for the same duration and length as the massage therapy group. Overall, the children in the massage therapy group improved in self-help abilities and communication, suggesting that massage therapy may enhance daily functioning for children with HIV/AIDS. Moreover, the HIV infected children who were six or older also showed a decrease in internalizing behaviors; specifically depressive/anxious behaviors and negative thoughts were reduced. Additionally, baseline assessments revealed IQ equivalence below normal functioning for 70% of the HIV infected children and very high incidences of mood problems (depression, withdrawn) for 40% of the children and anxiety problems for 20% of the children, suggesting the need for better monitoring and alternative interventions in countries with limited resources to improve cognition and the mental health status of children infected with HIV/AIDS.

Impact of a massage therapy clinical trial on immune status in young Dominican children infected with HIV-1.

PURPOSE: The effectiveness of massage therapy on immune parameters was evaluated in young Dominican HIV+ children without current access to antiretroviral therapies. METHODS: Eligible children, who were followed at the Robert Reid Cabral Hospital (San Domingo, Dominican Republic), were randomized to receive either massage treatment or a control/friendly visit twice weekly for 12 weeks. Blood was drawn at baseline and following the 3-month intervention for determinations of CD4, CD8, and CD56 cell counts and percentage, along with activation markers (CD25 and CD69). RESULTS: Despite similar immune parameters at baseline in the two groups, significantly more of the control group exhibited a decline in CD4 cell count (>30%, p = 0.03), postintervention. The decrease was particularly evident in older (5-8 years) children in the control arm, who demonstrated a significant reduction in both CD4 and CD8 cell counts compared to massage-treated older children who remained stable or showed immune improvement. Additionally, a significant increase in CD4+CD25+ cells was observed over the 12-week trial in the massage-treated older children (p = 0.04) but not in the control group. In younger massage-treated children, (2-4 years old), a significant increase in natural killer cells was shown. CONCLUSION: Together these findings support the role for massage therapy in immune preservation in HIV+ children.

Psychological burden in the era of HAART: impact of selenium therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of nutritional (selenium) chemoprevention on levels of psychological burden (anxiety, depression, and mood state) in HIV/AIDS. METHOD: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled selenium therapy (200 microg/day) trial was conducted in HIV+ drug users from 1998-2000. Psychosocial measures (STAI-State and Trait anxiety, BDI-depression, and POMS- mood state), clinical status (CD4 cell count, viral load), and plasma selenium levels were determined at baseline and compared with measurements obtained at the 12-month evaluation in 63 participants (32 men, 31 women). RESULTS: The majority of the study participants reported elevated levels of both State (68%) and Trait (70%) anxiety. Approximately 25% reported overall mood distress (POMS > 60) and moderate depression (BDI > 20). Psychological burden was not influenced by current drug use, antiretroviral treatment, or viral load. At the 12-month evaluation, participants who received selenium reported increased vigor (p = 0.004) and had less anxiety (State, p = 0.05 and Trait, p = 0.02), compared to the placebo-treated individuals. No apparent selenium-related affect on depression or distress was observed. The risk for state anxiety was almost four times higher, and nearly nine times greater for trait anxiety in the placebo-treated group, controlling for antiretroviral therapy, CD4 cell decline (> 50 cells) and years of education. CONCLUSIONS: Selenium therapy may be a beneficial treatment to decrease anxiety in HIV+ drug users who exhibit a high prevalence of psychological burden.

Impact of a selenium chemoprevention clinical trial on hospital admissions of HIV-infected participants.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of selenium chemoprevention (200 microg/day) on hospitalizations in HIV-positive individuals. METHOD: Data were obtained from 186 HIV+ men and women participating in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled selenium clinical trial (1998-2000). Supplements were dispensed monthly, and clinical evaluations were conducted every 6 months. Inpatient hospitalizations, hospitalization costs, and rates of hospitalization were determined 2 years before and during the trial. RESULTS: At enrollment, no significant differences in CD4 cell counts or viral burden were observed between the two study arms. Fewer placebo-treated participants were using antiretrovirals (p <.05). The total number of hospitalizations declined from 157 before the trial to 103 during the 2 year study. A marked decrease in total admission rates (RR = 0.38; p =.002) and percent of hospitalizations due to infection/100 patients for those receiving selenium was observed (p =.01). As a result, the cost for hospitalization decreased 58% in the selenium group, compared to a 30% decrease in the placebo group (p =.001). In the final analyses, selenium therapy continued to be a significant independent factor associated with lower risk of hospitalization (p =.001). CONCLUSION: Selenium supplementation appears to be a beneficial adjuvant treatment to decrease hospitalizations as well as the cost of caring for HIV-1-infected patients.