A Case of Transient Global Amnesia Triggered by Sexual Intercourse.

Transient global amnesia (TGA) is described as a sudden onset of anterograde and retrograde amnesia. In this case report, we present a case of a 52-year-old man who came to our hospital experiencing sudden-onset confusion and memory loss an hour after engaging in sexual activity with his wife. Before this, the patient had no previous medical history. Four hours following the event, a non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scan was performed and showed no signs of any intracranial pathology. In addition, T1-weighted and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed 13 hours following the incident and demonstrated punctate focus of restricted diffusion in the medial right temporal lobe in the region of the hippocampus. A diagnosis of transient global amnesia was made after other causes were ruled out. We present this rare case of transient global amnesia (TGA), highlighting sexual intercourse as a probable triggering component of the disease and demonstrating how crucial it is to rule out other severely morbid conditions before managing TGA.

Predator Performance and Fitness Is Dictated by Herbivore Prey Type Plus Indirect Effects of their Host Plant.

Animals, including herbivores and predators, use diet-mixing to balance their macro- and micronutrient intake. Recent work demonstrated that lady beetles fed only pea aphids from fava beans had reduced fitness caused by a deficiency of dietary sterols. However, beetles redressed this deficit by eating fava bean leaves. In the current study we used Coccinella septempunctata as a model to test the hypotheses that pea aphids are a poor sterol resource independent of their host plant, and that fava beans produce low quality prey regardless of aphid species. Additionally, we tested the reproductive rescue capacity of alfalfa and barley foliage compared to fava, and profiled the sterols of phloem exudates, foliage, and aphids reared on these different hosts. Beetle fecundity and egg viability was significantly better when provided pea aphids reared on alfalfa (compared to fava beans) and green peach aphids reared on fava plants. Alfalfa and barley leaves were not consumed by beetles and did not support beetle reproduction. The sterol profile of aphids largely reflected their host plant phloem. However, green peach aphids from fava acquired 125-times more sterol than pea aphids from fava. Our findings show how the sterol content of different host-plants can affect the third trophic level. Our results suggest that 1) prey quality varies depending on prey species, even when they occur on the same plant, 2) plant species can mediate prey quality, 3) host plant-mediated effects on prey quality partially drive omnivory, and 4) diet-mixing benefits growth and reproduction by redressing micronutrient deficits.

Microplastic changes the sinking and resuspension rates of marine mussel biodeposits.

Microplastic (MP; < 5 mm) is ubiquitous in marine environments and is likely transported by biotic benthic-pelagic coupling. Mussels are key benthic-pelagic couplers, concentrating particles from the water column into dense and nutrient rich biodeposits. This study examined how MP affects benthic-pelagic coupling processes of mussels exposed to feeding regimes with and without MP by measuring four attributes of biodeposits: 1) morphology, 2) quantity of algal and MP particles, 3) sinking rate, and 4) resuspension velocity. We found interacting effects of particle treatment and biodeposit type on biodeposit morphology. Biodeposits from the algae treatment contained more algal cells on average than biodeposits from the MP treatment. Biodeposits from the MP treatment sank 34-37% slower and resuspended in 7-22% slower shear velocities than biodeposits from the algae treatment. Decreases in sinking and resuspension velocities of biodeposits containing MP may increase dispersal distances, thus decreasing in-bed nutrient input and increasing nutrient subsidies for other communities.

The Distribution of Phytoplasmas in South and East Asia: An Emerging Threat to Grapevine Cultivation.

Grapevine is largely cultivated in several parts of the world, and a spurt in its cultivation has occurred in the last two decades in grapevine cultivated areas of South and East Asia, mainly in China, India, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia. Grapevine yellows (GY) represent one of the most important diseases in viticultural areas of the world, and they have been assigned to five different groups: aster yellows [AY (16SrI)], peanut witches' broom [PnWB (16SrII)], X-disease (16SrIII), elm yellows [EY (16SrV)], and Stolbur (16SrXII). This study provides a comprehensive overview of the presence of phytoplasma strains and their vectors associated with GY complex, and their potential impact on viticulture of the South and East Asia. In general, both AY and EY were reported on several herbaceous plants and/or cultivated plants in South and East Asia, along with its vectors that were largely reported in China and sporadically in Japan. Interestingly, AY and EY are yet not found in South and East Asia grapevine regions; however, their presence on different plant species suggests the potential spread of the pathogens that may occur in grapevine regions in the near future. Additionally, a few reports also suggest the presence of Stolbur group in Asian countries, along with one study that found a Stolbur-related strain in China on Vitis vinifera. Similarly, PnWB was also frequently reported in India and China on several plant species, but not in grapes. Conversely, sporadic detections of phytoplasma strains related to X-disease in Thailand, South Korea, and China indicate that their potential influence in viticulture is rather negligible. Our review suggests that monitoring and control strategies against GY are essential in order to prevent epidemic phytoplasma spread, especially in vine-allocated areas in Asia.

The Role of Soil Solarization in India: How an Unnoticed Practice Could Support Pest Control.

Plant protection represents one of the strategies to fill the yield gap and to achieve food security, a key topic for India development. Analysis of climate risks for crops indicates that South Asia is one of the regions most exposed to the adverse impact on many plants that are relevant to inhabitants exposed to food safety risks. Furthermore, accumulation of pesticide residues in the aquatic and other ecosystems is becoming a significant threat in India. These perspectives require to develop programs of crop protection that can be feasible according to Indian rural development and pollution policy. Here we review the research works done on soil solarization in India. Soil solarization (also called plasticulture) is an eco-friendly soil disinfestations method for managing soil-borne plant pathogens. This is the process of trapping solar energy by moist soil covered with transparent polyethylene films and chemistry, biology and physical properties of soil are involved in pest control. So far, this technique is applied in more than 50 countries, mostly in hot and humid regions. India has 29 states and these states fall under five climatic zones, from humid to arid ones. We report pest management application in different climatic zones and their effects on production, weeds, nematodes, and pathogenic microorganisms. The analysis of soil temperatures and crop protection results indicate as environmental requirement for soil solarization fits in most of Indian rural areas. Soil solarization is compatible with future Indian scenarios and may support Indian national food security programs.