Evaluation of succulent plants Echeveria elegans as a biomonitor of heavy metals and radionuclides.

This work evaluates the use of Echeveria elegans as a biomonitor of metals and radionuclides, using semi-urban soils as a study area. The study area is exposed to various trace elements of concern for various social groups in nearby localities. The quantification of metals and radionuclides was performed by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and gamma spectrometry, respectively. Cumulative frequency distribution curves, descriptive statistics, and multivariate analysis were used to estimate the local geochemical baseline and identify geochemical and anthropogenic patterns of metals and radionuclides from topsoil and E. elegans. The evaluation of contaminants and the contribution of possible exposure routes (topsoil and atmospheric deposition) was performed with the enrichment factor (EF) and the relative concentration factor (CFR). The results suggest that the plant does not present significant physical stress due to the environmental conditions to which it was exposed. Likewise, it can bioaccumulate heavy metals from natural and anthropogenic sources. The quantification of radionuclides in the plant is below the detection limits, indicating a low bioavailability and transfer factor. The CFR and EF results showed that the plant accumulates metals from the topsoil and atmospheric deposition. The bioaccumulation mechanism would be related to the functioning of Crassulaceae Acid Metabolism (CAM). In topsoil, the organic acids of the plant would modify the solubility of the metals present in an insoluble form in the soil, acting as ligands and, subsequently, following the transport route of these metabolites. In atmospheric deposition, the metals deposited in the leaves would be incorporated into the plant through the opening of the stomata because of the capture of CO2 (at night, day, or during environmental stress) by the CAM. Overall, the evidence showed that the succulent can be used as a biomonitor of heavy metals. However, additional studies are required to determine its usefulness as a radionuclide biomonitor.

[Risk factors for clinical deterioration in patients admitted for COVID-19: A case-control study]. / Factores de riesgo de deterioro clínico en pacientes ingresados por COVID-19: estudio caso-control.

INTRODUCTION: There is controversy regarding the best predictors of clinical deterioration in COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: This work aims to identify predictors of risk factors for deterioration in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19. METHODS DESIGN: Nested case-control study within a cohort. Setting: 13 acute care centers of the Osakidetza-Basque Health Service. Participants: Patients hospitalized for COVID-19 with clinical deterioration-defined as onset of severe ARDS, ICU admission, or death-were considered cases. Two controls were matched to each case based on age. Sociodemographic data; comorbidities; baseline treatment; symptoms; date of onset; previous consultations; and clinical, analytical, and radiological variables were collected. An explanatory model of clinical deterioration was created by means of conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 99 cases and 198 controls were included. According to the logistic regression analysis, the independent variables associated with clinical deterioration were: emergency department O2 saturation ≤90% (OR 16.6; 95%CI 4-68), pathological chest X-ray (OR 5.6; 95%CI 1.7-18.4), CRP >100 mg/dL (OR 3.62; 95%CI 1.62-8), thrombocytopenia with < 150,000 platelets (OR 4; 95%CI 1.84-8.6); and a medical history of acute myocardial infarction (OR 15.7; 95%CI, 3.29-75.09), COPD (OR 3.05; 95%CI 1.43-6.5), or HT (OR 2.21; 95%CI 1.11-4.4). The model's AUC was 0.86. On the univariate analysis, female sex and presence of dry cough and sore throat were associated with better clinical progress, but were not found to be significant on the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The variables identified could be useful in clinical practice for the detection of patients at high risk of poor outcomes.

Lack of trade-offs in host offspring produced during fecundity compensation.

Host-parasite coevolution may result in life-history changes in hosts that can limit the detrimental effects of parasitism. Fecundity compensation is one such life-history response, occurring when hosts increase their current reproductive output to make up for expected losses in future reproduction due to parasitic infection. However, the potential trade-offs between this increase in quantity and the quality of offspring have been relatively unexplored. This study uses the trematode, Schistosoma mansoni, and its snail intermediate host, Biomphalaria glabrata, to better understand how this host life-history response, fecundity compensation, impacts host reproduction. Measures of host reproductive output as well as offspring hatching success and survival were collected to assess the reproductive consequences of infection. Infected snails exhibited fecundity compensation by increasing the number of eggs laid and the overall probability of laying eggs compared to uninfected snails. Parental infection status did not play a significant role in hatching or offspring survival to maturity. Offspring from a later reproductive bout demonstrated a higher hatching success rate. Overall, the lack of an apparent trade-off between quantity and quality of offspring suggests that infected parental snails invest more resources towards reproduction not only to increase reproductive output, but also to maintain the fitness of their offspring, possibly at the expense of their own longevity.

The Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi ltrR Gene Encodes Two Proteins Whose Transcriptional Expression Is Upregulated by Alkaline pH and Repressed at Their Promoters and Coding Regions by H-NS and Lrp.

LtrR is a LysR-type regulator involved in the positive expression of ompR to promote ompC and ompF expression. This regulatory network is fundamental for the control of bacterial transformation and resistance to the bile salt sodium deoxycholate in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. In this work, the transcriptional regulation of ltrR was characterized, revealing that the use of alternative promoters results in two transcripts. The larger one, the ltrR2 mRNA, was repressed at promoter and coding regions by H-NS, whereas Lrp repressed its expression at the coding region. In the case of the second and shorter ltrR1 transcript, it was repressed only at the coding region by H-NS and Lrp. Remarkably, pH 7.5 is a positive signal involved in the transcriptional expression of both ltrR units. Translational fusions and Western blot experiments demonstrated that ltrR2 and ltrR1 mRNAs encode the LtrR2 and LtrR1 proteins. This study adds new data on the complex genetic and regulatory characteristics of one of the most predominant types of transcriptional factors in bacteria, the LysR-type transcriptional regulators.IMPORTANCE The LysR-type transcriptional regulators are present in viruses, archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotic cells. Furthermore, these proteins are the most abundant transcriptional factors in bacteria. Here, we demonstrate that two LysR-type proteins are generated from the ltrR gene. These proteins are genetically induced by pH and repressed at the promoter and coding regions by the global regulators H-NS and Lrp. Thus, novel basic aspects of the complex genetic regulation of the LysR-type transcriptional regulators are described.

Genetic bases for variation in structure and biological activity of trichothecene toxins produced by diverse fungi.

Trichothecenes are sesquiterpene toxins produced by diverse but relatively few fungal species in at least three classes of Ascomycetes: Dothideomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, and Sordariomycetes. Approximately 200 structurally distinct trichothecene analogs have been described, but a given fungal species typically produces only a small subset of analogs. All trichothecenes share a core structure consisting of a four-ring nucleus known as 12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-ene. This structure can be substituted at various positions with hydroxyl, acyl, or keto groups to give rise to the diversity of trichothecene structures that has been described. Over the last 30 years, the genetic and biochemical pathways required for trichothecene biosynthesis in several species of the fungi Fusarium and Trichoderma have been elucidated. In addition, phylogenetic and functional analyses of trichothecene biosynthetic (TRI) genes from fungi in multiple genera have provided insights into how acquisition, loss, and changes in functions of TRI genes have given rise to the diversity of trichothecene structures. These analyses also suggest both divergence and convergence of TRI gene function during the evolutionary history of trichothecene biosynthesis. What has driven trichothecene structural diversification remains an unanswered question. However, insight into the role of trichothecenes in plant pathogenesis of Fusarium species and into plant glucosyltransferases that detoxify the toxins by glycosylating them point to a possible driver. Because the glucosyltransferases can have substrate specificity, changes in trichothecene structures produced by a fungus could allow it to evade detoxification by the plant enzymes. Thus, it is possible that advantages conferred by evading detoxification have contributed to trichothecene structural diversification. KEY POINTS : • TRI genes have evolved by diverse processes: loss, acquisition and changes in function. • Some TRI genes have acquired the same function by convergent evolution. • Some other TRI genes have evolved divergently to have different functions. • Some TRI genes were acquired or resulted from diversification in function of other genes. • Substrate specificity of plant glucosyltransferases could drive trichothecene diversity.

Changes on Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation Are Associated with Delayed Cerebral Ischemia in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Early identification of vasospasm prior to symptom onset would allow prevention of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Dynamic cerebral autoregulation (DCA) is a noninvasive means of assessing cerebral blood flow regulation by determining independence of low-frequency temporal oscillations of systemic blood pressure (BP) and cerebral blood flow velocities (CBFV). METHODS: Eight SAH patients underwent prospectively a median of 7 DCA assessments consisting of continuous measurements of BCFV and BP. Transfer function analysis was applied to calculate average phase shift (PS) in low (0.07-0.2 Hz) frequency range for each hemisphere as continuous measure of DCA. Lower PS indicated poorer regulatory response. DCI was defined as a 2-point decrease in Glasgow Coma Score and/or infarction on CT. RESULTS: Three subjects developed symptomatic vasospasm with median time-to-DCI of 9 days. DCI was significantly associated with lower PS over the entire recording period (Wald = 4.28; p = 0.039). Additionally, there was a significant change in PS over different recording periods after adjusting for DCI (Wald = 15.66; p = 0.001); particularly, a significantly lower mean PS day 3-5 after bleed (14.22 vs 27.51; p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: DCA might be useful for early detection of symptomatic vasospasm. A larger cohort study of SAH patients is currently underway.

Usutu virus: A new threat?

Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging arbovirus that was first isolated in South Africa in 1959. This Flavivirus is maintained in the environment through a typical enzootic cycle involving mosquitoes and birds. USUV has spread to a large part of the European continent over the two decades mainly leading to substantial avian mortalities with a significant recrudescence of bird infections recorded throughout Europe within the few last years. USUV infection in humans is considered to be most often asymptomatic or to cause mild clinical signs. Nonetheless, a few cases of neurological complications such as encephalitis or meningoencephalitis have been reported. USUV and West Nile virus (WNV) share many features, like a close phylogenetic relatedness and a similar ecology, with co-circulation frequently observed in nature. However, USUV has been much less studied and in-depth comparisons of the biology of these viruses are yet rare. In this review, we discuss the main body of knowledge regarding USUV and compare it with the literature on WNV, addressing in particular virological and clinical aspects, and pointing data gaps.

Predictors of 1- and 2-year mortality in patients with rectal cancer.

AIM: Tools are needed to aid in the assessment of the prognosis of patients with rectal cancer regarding the risk of medium-term mortality. The aim of this study was to develop and validate clinical prediction rules for 1- and 2-year mortality in patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer. METHOD: A prospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with rectal cancer who underwent surgery was carried out. The main outcomes were mortality at 1 and 2 years after surgery. Background, clinical parameters and diagnostic test findings were evaluated as possible predictors. Multivariable survival models were used in the statistical analyses. RESULTS: Predictors of 1-year mortality were being a current smoker [hazard ratio (HR) 4.98], having a Charlson index adjusted by age > 5 (HR 2.61), the presence of vascular, perineural or lymphatic invasion (HR 3.30), the presence of residual tumour at the operation (R-stage) (HR 8.64) and TNM stage (HR for TNM IV 5.10) [concordance index (C-index) 0.799 (95% CI: 0.71-0.89)]. Age greater than 80 years (HR 2.19), being a current smoker (HR 2.20), the pre-intervention haemoglobin level (HR 2.02), need for blood transfusion (HR 2.12), vascular, perineural or lymphatic invasion (HR 2.59), R-stage of the operation (HR 6.13) and TNM stage (HR for TNM IV 4.43) were predictors of 2-year mortality [C-index 0.779 (0.718-0.840)]. Adjuvant chemotherapy was an additional predictor at both outcome durations. CONCLUSION: These clinical parameters show good predictive values and are easy and quick-to-use tools to help in clinical decision making.

Characterization of the Vibrio fischeri Fatty Acid Chemoreceptors, VfcB and VfcB2.

Bacteria use a wide variety of methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs) to mediate their attraction to or repulsion from different chemical signals in their environment. The bioluminescent marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri is the monospecific symbiont of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, and encodes a large repertoire of MCPs that are hypothesized to be used during different parts of its complex, multistage lifestyle. Here, we report the initial characterization of two such MCPs from V. fischeri that are responsible for mediating migration toward short- and medium-chain aliphatic (or fatty) acids. These receptors appear to be distributed among only members of the family Vibrionaceae and are likely descended from a receptor that has been lost by the majority of the members of this family. While chemotaxis greatly enhances the efficiency of host colonization by V. fischeri, fatty acids do not appear to be used as a chemical cue during this stage of the symbiosis. This study presents an example of straight-chain fatty acid chemoattraction and contributes to the growing body of characterized MCP-ligand interactions.

Prospective study of predictive factors of changes in pain and hip function after hip fracture among the elderly.

UNLABELLED: Our study identified pre-fracture variables, such as home status or function, that are directly or indirectly associated with frailty status before fracture. The prevention in the deterioration of those variables would improve the prognosis of those hip fractured, being this an important issue for the societies with increasingly aging population. INTRODUCTION: This study was designed to identify predictors of pain and declines in function among elderly patients following a fall-related hip fracture. METHODS: Patients aged 65 or older with a fall-related hip fracture retrospectively completed pre-fracture status questionnaires (T0; n = 740) and were then prospectively followed for 6 months (T1; n = 546). Of these, 474 were randomly selected to complete an additional 18 months of follow-up (T2; n = 356). Primary outcome measures were changes in the pain and function dimensions of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire's short form (WOMAC-SF). Potential predictors included sociodemographic variables, in-hospital and clinical pre- and post-fracture data, and activities of daily living at baseline and follow-up. Multivariate logistic regression was used for analysis. RESULTS: Predictors of worsening pain at T1 and/or T2 included living in a home care situation or nursing home before the fracture (OR at T1, 1.515; OR at T2, 2.749), and low pre-fracture pain (OR at T1, 1.028; OR at T2, 1.027). Predictors of deterioration in function at T1 and/or T2 included age ≥85 years (OR at T1, 2.714; OR at T2, 4.762), lower income (OR at T1, 1.755), high pre-fracture hip function (OR at T1, 1.029; OR at T2, 1.028), referral to rehabilitation upon discharge (OR at T1, 2.378; OR at T2, 2.881), and longer delay between fall and surgery (OR at T1, 1.133; OR at T2, 1.124). CONCLUSIONS: Frailty before hip fracture is a predictor of greater post-fracture pain and deterioration in function. Given that exercise programs help prevent frailty, promoting exercise in elderly may improve the prognosis of hip fracture.

Inhibition of the NorA efflux pump of Staphylococcus aureus by synthetic riparins.

AIM: The goal of this study was to increase knowledge about the antimicrobial activity of some synthetic Riparin-derived compounds, alone or in combination with fluoroquinolone antibiotics, against a strain of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to fluoroquinolone by way of overexpression of the NorA efflux pump. METHODS AND RESULTS: Microdilution tests showed that Riparins A and B did not show any significant antibacterial activity against Staph. aureus strains. On the other hand, the intrinsic antibacterial activity increased with increasing lipophilicity of the compounds, in the following order: Riparin-D (MIC 256 µg ml-1 ; Log P 2·95) < Riparin-C (MIC 102 µg ml-1 ; Log P 3·22) < Riparin-E (MIC 16 µg ml-1 ; Log P 3·57). The addition of all riparins to growth media at subinhibitory concentrations caused an increase in the antibacterial activity of antibiotics against the NorA-overexpressing test strain. Riparin-B, which has two methoxyl groups at the phenethyl moiety, showed the best modulatory effect. CONCLUSIONS: Riparin-E is a good anti-staphylococci agent, while Riparin-B functions as a NorA efflux pump inhibitor. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Our data suggest the possibility of using Riparin-B in combination with norfloxacin or ciprofloxacin for therapy of infections caused by multi-drug resistant Staph. aureus.

Effect of fermented broth from lactic acid bacteria on pathogenic bacteria proliferation.

In this study, the effect that 5 fermented broths of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains have on the viability or proliferation and adhesion of 7 potentially pathogenic microorganisms was tested. The fermented broth from Lactococcus lactis C660 had a growth inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli K92 that reached of 31%, 19% to Pseudomonas fluorescens, and 76% to Staphylococcus epidermidis. The growth of Staph. epidermidis was negatively affected to 90% by Lc. lactis 11454 broth, whereas the growth of P. fluorescens (25%) and both species of Staphylococcus (35% to Staphylococcus aureus and 76% to Staph. epidermidis) were inhibited when they were incubated in the presence of Lactobacillus casei 393 broth. Finally, the fermented broth of Lactobacillus rhamnosus showed an inhibitory effect on growth of E. coli K92, Listeria innocua, and Staph. epidermidis reached values of 12, 28, and 76%, respectively. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most affected strain because the effect was detected from the early stages of growth and it was completely abolished. The results of bacterial adhesion revealed that broths from Lc. lactis strains, Lactobacillus paracasei, and Lb. rhamnosus caused a loss of E. coli K92 adhesion. Bacillus cereus showed a decreased of adhesion in the presence of the broths of Lc. lactis strains and Lb. paracasei. Listeria innocua adhesion inhibition was observed in the presence of Lb. paracasei broth, and the greatest inhibitory effect was registered when this pathogenic bacterium was incubated in presence of Lc. lactis 11454 broth. With respect to the 2 Pseudomonas, we observed a slight adhesion inhibition showed by Lactobacillus rhamnosus broth against Pseudomonas putida. These results confirm that the effect caused by the different LAB assayed is also broth- and species-specific and reveal that the broth from LAB tested can be used as functional bioactive compounds to regulate the adhesion and biofilm synthesis and ultimately lead to preventing food and clinical contamination and colonization of E. coli K92, B. cereus, and Ls. innocua.

Agricultural activity shapes the communication and migration patterns in Senegal.

The communication and migration patterns of a country are shaped by its socioeconomic processes. The economy of Senegal is predominantly rural, as agriculture employs over 70% of the labor force. In this paper, we use mobile phone records to explore the impact of agricultural activity on the communication and mobility patterns of the inhabitants of Senegal. We find two peaks of phone calls activity emerging during the growing season. Moreover, during the harvest period, we detect an increase in the migration flows throughout the country. However, religious holidays also shape the mobility patterns of the Senegalese people. Hence, in the light of our results, agricultural activity and religious holidays are the primary drivers of mobility inside the country.

Effectiveness of gamma knife treatment in patients affected by idiopathic recurrent trigeminal neuralgia. / Efectividad del tratamiento con bisturí de rayos gamma en pacientes afectados por la neuralgia del trigémino idiopática recurrente.

INTRODUCTION: Gamma Knife Surgery (GNS) is one of the many techniques used to treat the idiopathic form of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). The aim of this review is to analyse the effectiveness of treatment with GNS in patients affected by recurrent TN. DEVELOPMENT: a literature search conducted using MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus in January of 2013 yielded 125 results. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we selected16 articles evaluating the effectiveness of GNS for reducing symptoms in patients with recurrent TN. Assessment criteria were degree of pain, time to pain relief, pain maintenance, and disease recurrence after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: GNS is considered a non-invasive, safe, and effective treatment for patients with idiopathic TN refractory to medication and surgery. It is currently considered the most advanced means of treating this disease.

Trichodiene Production in a Trichoderma harzianum erg1-Silenced Strain Provides Evidence of the Importance of the Sterol Biosynthetic Pathway in Inducing Plant Defense-Related Gene Expression.

Trichoderma species are often used as biocontrol agents against plant-pathogenic fungi. A complex molecular interaction occurs among the biocontrol agent, the antagonistic fungus, and the plant. Terpenes and sterols produced by the biocontrol fungus have been found to affect gene expression in both the antagonistic fungus and the plant. The terpene trichodiene (TD) elicits the expression of genes related to tomato defense and to Botrytis virulence. We show here that TD itself is able to induce the expression of Botrytis genes involved in the synthesis of botrydial (BOT) and also induces terpene gene expression in Trichoderma spp. The terpene ergosterol, in addition to its role as a structural component of the fungal cell membranes, acts as an elicitor of defense response in plants. In the present work, using a transformant of T. harzianum, which is silenced in the erg1 gene and accumulates high levels of squalene, we show that this ergosterol precursor also acts as an important elicitor molecule of tomato defense-related genes and induces Botrytis genes involved in BOT biosynthesis, in both cases, in a concentration-dependent manner. Our data emphasize the importance of a balance of squalene and ergosterol in fungal interactions as well as in the biocontrol activity of Trichoderma spp.

Effects of Trichothecene Production on the Plant Defense Response and Fungal Physiology: Overexpression of the Trichoderma arundinaceum tri4 Gene in T. harzianum.

Trichothecenes are fungal sesquiterpenoid compounds, the majority of which have phytotoxic activity. They contaminate food and feed stocks, resulting in potential harm to animals and human beings. Trichoderma brevicompactum and T. arundinaceum produce trichodermin and harzianum A (HA), respectively, two trichothecenes that show different bioactive properties. Both compounds have remarkable antibiotic and cytotoxic activities, but in addition, trichodermin is highly phytotoxic, while HA lacks this activity when analyzed in vivo. Analysis of Fusarium trichothecene intermediates led to the conclusion that most of them, with the exception of the hydrocarbon precursor trichodiene (TD), have a detectable phytotoxic activity which is not directly related to the structural complexity of the intermediate. In the present work, the HA intermediate 12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-ene (EPT) was produced by expression of the T. arundinaceum tri4 gene in a transgenic T. harzianum strain that already produces TD after transformation with the T. arundinaceum tri5 gene. Purified EPT did not show antifungal or phytotoxic activity, while purified HA showed both antifungal and phytotoxic activities. However, the use of the transgenic T. harzianum tri4 strain induced a downregulation of defense-related genes in tomato plants and also downregulated plant genes involved in fungal root colonization. The production of EPT by the transgenic tri4 strain raised levels of erg1 expression and reduced squalene accumulation while not affecting levels of ergosterol. Together, these results indicate the complex interactions among trichothecene intermediates, fungal antagonists, and host plants.

Endocannabinoids drive the acquisition of an alternative phenotype in microglia.

The ability of microglia to acquire diverse states of activation, or phenotypes, reflects different features that are determinant for their contribution to homeostasis in the adult CNS, and their activity in neuroinflammation, repair or immunomodulation. Despite the widely reported immunomodulatory effects of cannabinoids in both the peripheral immune system and the CNS, less is known about how the endocannabinoid signaling system (eCBSS) influence the microglial phenotype. The general aim of the present study was to investigate the role of endocannabinoids in microglia polarization by using microglia cell cultures. We show that alternative microglia (M2a) and acquired deactivated microglia (M2c) exhibit changes in the eCB machinery that favor the selective synthesis of 2-AG and AEA, respectively. Once released, these eCBs might be able to act through CB1 and/or CB2 receptors in order to influence the acquisition of an M2 phenotype. We present three lines of evidence that the eCBSS is critical for the acquisition of the M2 phenotype: (i) M2 polarization occurs on exposure to the two main endocannabinoids 2-AG and AEA in microglia cultures; (ii) cannabinoid receptor antagonists block M2 polarization; and (iii) M2 polarization is dampened in microglia from CB2 receptor knockout mice. Taken together, these results indicate the interest of eCBSS for the regulation of microglial activation in normal and pathological conditions.

Changes in health-related quality of life and activities of daily living after hip fracture because of a fall in elderly patients: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The impact of hip fracture because of a fall on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and activities of daily living (ADL) have not been well established. AIM: To evaluate changes in HRQoL and the ability to conduct ADL among patients with hip fracture because of a fall and to compare these changes with patients who did not fall and break a hip, adjusting by gender and age. METHODS: Adults aged 65 or more who attended the emergency departments of seven public hospitals were recruited in a prospective double-cohort study (fracture cohort, n = 776; non-fracture cohort, n = 115). ADL and HRQoL were assessed at baseline (during the postfall hospitalisation or by telephone afterwards) and 6 months later using the Barthel Index and the Lawton Brody Index for ADL, and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index short form (WOMAC-SF) for HRQoL. RESULTS: Adjusting by gender, age and baseline status, a hip fracture was a strong predictor of decline in all outcomes measured except for mental quality of life among men (measured by SF-12). Hip fracture patients younger than 74 years reported significantly more pain (measured by WOMAC-SF) than the comparison group (p = 0.02), but this difference was not observed among older patients (p = 0.19 for 75-84 years; p = 0.39 for ≥ 85 years). DISCUSSION: Hip fractures have profound effects on HRQoL and ADL in both men and women, regardless of age. This indicates the need for special follow-up care of elderly hip fracture patients in the immediate and late postfracture periods.

Overexpression of erg1 gene in Trichoderma harzianum CECT 2413: effect on the induction of tomato defence-related genes.

AIMS: To investigate the effect of the overexpression of erg1 gene of Trichoderma harzianum CECT 2413 (T34) on the Trichoderma-plant interactions and in the biocontrol ability of this fungus. METHODS AND RESULTS: Transformants of T34 strain overexpressing erg1 gene did not show effect on the ergosterol level, although a drastic decrease in the squalene level was observed in the transformants at 96 h of growth. During interaction with plants, the erg1 overexpression resulted in a reduction of the priming ability of several tomato defence-related genes belonging to the salicylate pathway, and also of the TomLoxA gene, which is related to the jasmonate pathway. Interestingly, other jasmonate-related genes, such as PINI and PINII, were slightly induced. The erg1 overexpressed transformants also showed a reduced ability to colonize tomato roots. CONCLUSIONS: The ergosterol biosynthetic pathway might play an important role in regulating Trichoderma-plant interactions, although this role does not seem to be restricted to the final product; instead, other intermediates such as squalene, whose role in the Trichoderma-plant interaction has not been characterized, would also play an important role. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The functional analysis of genes involved in the synthesis of ergosterol could provide additional strategies to improve the ability of biocontrol of the Trichoderma strains and their interaction with plants.

Non-toxic plant metabolites regulate Staphylococcus viability and biofilm formation: a natural therapeutic strategy useful in the treatment and prevention of skin infections.

In the present study, the efficacy of generally recognised as safe (GRAS) antimicrobial plant metabolites in regulating the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis was investigated. Thymol, carvacrol and eugenol showed the strongest antibacterial action against these microorganisms, at a subinhibitory concentration (SIC) of ≤ 50 µg ml(-1). Genistein, hydroquinone and resveratrol showed antimicrobial effects but with a wide concentration range (SIC = 50-1,000 µg ml(-1)), while catechin, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and cranberry extract were the most biologically compatible molecules (SIC ≥ 1000 µg ml(-1)). Genistein, protocatechuic acid, cranberry extract, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and resveratrol also showed anti-biofilm activity against S. aureus, but not against S. epidermidis in which, surprisingly, these metabolites stimulated biofilm formation (between 35% and 1,200%). Binary combinations of cranberry extract and resveratrol with genistein, protocatechuic or p-hydroxibenzoic acid enhanced the stimulatory effect on S. epidermidis biofilm formation and maintained or even increased S. aureus anti-biofilm activity.