The Use of Mycoendophyte-Based Bioformulations to Control Apple Diseases: Toward an Organic Apple Production System in the Aurès (Algeria).

The present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of bioformulations based on endophytic fungi to control apple scab and Valsa canker disease in two orchards in the Aurès region (Algeria). In both orchards, the results showed that the treatment of senescent apple leaves by invert emulsions containing Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Chaetomium globosum harmed the ascogenesis of winter forms of Venturia inaequalis by reducing the number of ascospore-ejecting asci, the number of morphologically mature asci, and a considerable increase in the immature asci number. This antifungal activity was more essential in soil-incorporated leaves, showing the importance of the combination of treatments with cultural practices to efficiently control the apple scab disease. Furthermore, the disease incidence decreased by 52.63% and 50.68% in R'haouat and Bouhmama orchards, respectively. Moreover, the treatment of Valsa ceratosperma cankers with a biogel containing the endophytic yeast Metschnikowia sp. led to wound healing varying from 43.52% and 87.97% after 120 days but remained more considerable than conventional treatment with Folicur (tebuconazol). The current results open real opportunities concerning the implementation of eco-friendly and potent apple protection systems.

Biological Pests Management for Sustainable Agriculture: Understanding the Influence of Cladosporium-Bioformulated Endophytic Fungi Application to Control Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776) in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).

The potato is a staple food crop worldwide and the need for this product has increased due to the burgeoning population. However, potato production is highly constrained by biotic stress interference, such as Myzus persicae Sulzer, which causes serious yield losses and thus minimizing production income. The current study aims to investigate the effect of different formulations prepared as an invert emulsion with different concentrations of fungal culture filtrates derived from three endophytic fungi (genus Cladosporium) against Myzus persicae. All formulations have demonstrated an aphicidal activity, which increases with the increasing concentration of fungal filtrates. Furthermore, it has been noted that chitinolytic activity recorded for 12 days is important in Cladosporium sp. BEL21 isolated from dwarf mistletoe Arceuthobium oxycedri. The study of demographic and embryonic parameters of aphids settled on potato plants previously treated with formulations revealed a significant reduction in the numbers of colonizing aphids and a relative increase in the numbers of winged adults, especially in plants treated with BEL21-derived emulsion. The pre-treatment of plants may interfere with and negatively influence embryonic development and early maturity of the embryo and thus affect the fertility of parthenogenetic aphids. BEL21-derived emulsion can ensure effective and an inexpensive control of M. persicae for potato spring cropping systems. The current results open real opportunities concerning the implementation of ecofriendly and potent potato protection systems.

Prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae Antibiotic Resistance in Medina, Saudi Arabia, 2014-2018.

Antibiotic resistance is a rising dilemma of significant implications on global public health. Few data exist for the prevalence and trends of Klebsiella pneumonia antibiotic resistance in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, we have set out to identify the prevalence and trends of Klebsiella pneumonia antibiotic resistance in King Fahad Hospital in Medina over the period between February 27, 2014, and December 31, 2018. The research was carried out as a retrospective cross-sectional study. A total of 15708 isolates taken from 1149 patients were included in the study. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). We used descriptive and trend analysis using the linear regression method. In the results, we have found unprecedented emergence of resistance to carbapenems, with 38.4% (n=436) for imipenem and 46.1% (n=371) for meropenem, which are the first choice of treatment in local guidelines, as well as high resistance rates for commonly used alternative options of treatment (40.7% (n=105) for colistin and 53.3% (n=220) for tigecycline). In addition, third and fourth generation cephalosporins showed resistance ranging from 57.5% to 77.8%. Co-resistance with imipenem was found at rates exceeding 75% for other choices of management (aminoglycosides and cephalosporins), apart from colistin and tigecycline that had rates of 53.6% (n=89) and 61.4% (n=167), respectively. In conclusion, the research showed increased resistance rates to beta-lactams, as well as an emergence of resistance to carbapenems and other alternatives of treatment like colistin and tigecycline.

Femoral shaft fractures in children with non-ambulatory neuromuscular disorders can be effectively treated using flexible intramedullary nails.

PURPOSE: There is little information in the literature regarding flexible intramedullary nails (FIN) for treating femur fractures in children with neuromuscular disorders. The purpose of this study is to investigate the outcomes of FIN for femoral shaft fractures in non-ambulatory children with neuromuscular disorders. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on patients with femur fractures at a paediatric hospital between 2004 and 2018. Inclusion criteria were femoral shaft fracture treated with FIN. Outcomes were compared between patients with neuromuscular disorders (NM group) and a control group of those without neuromuscular disorders. RESULTS: A total of 37 patients with 37 femoral shaft fractures were studied (12 patients in the NM group and 25 in the control group). All NM group patients were non-ambulatory at baseline. Fractures were length stable in all 25 patients in the control group and in 2/12 (17%) patients in the NM group. All fractures healed in both groups. Three complications (all nail migrations) requiring reoperation before fracture union occurred in the NM group, yielding a major complication rate of 25% (3/12) in the NM group versus 0% (0/25) in controls (p = 0.03). Angular deformity occurred in 5/12 (42%) NM group patients and 1/25 (4%) control group patient (p = 0.009); none required reoperation. CONCLUSION: Femur fractures in non-ambulatory children with neuromuscular disorders can be successfully treated with FIN. Angular deformities are common in this population, but had no functional impact in the non-ambulatory NM group patients. Surgeons must also be vigilant for implant prominence and skin breakdown in these patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

FTIR-ATR determination of solid non fat (SNF) in raw milk using PLS and SVM chemometric methods.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy, coupled with chemometrics methods have been applied to the fast and non-destructive quantitative determination of solid non fat (SNF) content in raw milk. Partial least squares regression (PLS) and support vector machine (SVM) regression methods were used to model and predict SNF contents in raw milk based on FTIR spectral transmission measurements. Both methods, PLS and SVM, showed good performances in SNF prediction with relative prediction errors in the external validation of between 0.2% and 0.3% depending on the spectral range and regression method. Coefficient of determination of the global fit was always above 0.99. Since, the relative prediction errors were low, it can be concluded that FTIR-ATR with chemometrics can be used for accurate quantitative determinations of SNF contents in raw milk within the investigated calibration range of 79-100g/L. The proposed procedure is fast, non-destructive, simple and easy to implement.

Management of gynecologic surgery in the patient with factor XI deficiency: a review of the literature.

UNLABELLED: Factor XI deficiency is a rare bleeding disorder that is more commonly found in Ashkenazi Jews. Bleeding manifestations of this disorder are varied and poorly correlate with factor XI levels. Spontaneous bleeding is uncommon, whereas delayed postoperative bleeding is often the presentation of factor XI deficiency. To date, there are no standard recommendations for prophylactic treatment in women undergoing gynecologic surgery. Here, we review published cases of gynecological surgery in women with factor XI deficiency and discuss the risks and benefits of various therapeutic options. TARGET AUDIENCE: Obstetricians And Gynecologists. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After participating in this activity, physicians should be better able to identify the pathophysiology of factor XI deficiency. Compare previous outcomes of prophylactic treatment in patients with factor XI deficiency undergoing gynecological surgery. Implement possible prophylactic therapies for patients with factor XI deficiency undergoing gynecological surgery.

Screening for distress in patients with brain cancer using the NCCN's rapid screening measure.

GOALS OF WORK: Patients with brain cancer are at a risk of experiencing elevated levels of distress due to the severe functional, neurocognitive, and neuropsychological sequelae of the disease. Using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's Distress Thermometer, we evaluated the extent and sources of distress within a population of patients with brain cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Participants were asked to complete the Distress Thermometer, a single-item rapid screening tool for distress. The Distress Thermometer is a visual analog scale on which participants rate their level of distress from '0' (none) to '10' (extreme). Participants were also asked to designate which items from a 34-item list constitute sources of distress. MAIN RESULTS: Fifty-two percent of participants met the > or =4 cut-off score for distress. The scores were positively correlated with patient-reported emotional sources of distress (r = 0.444, p < 0.001), physical sources of stress (r = 0.231, p < 0.05), and total number of concerns (r = 0.368, p < 0.001). On average, brain tumor patients reported 5.8 cancer-related items of concern. CONCLUSION: Brain cancer patients are likely to experience distress at some point during their disease trajectory. Patient-reported emotional sources of distress should be targeted and interventions should be designed to address sources of distress such as worry, sadness, and depression.

Study of spontaneous crystalluria on a series of patients in the Tadla Azilal Moroccan area.

OBJECTIVES: There are few studies on crystalluria in the developing countries. The aim of the present study was carrying out a first study in Morocco on the frequency and the chemical nature of the crystalluria according to the sex and the age of human individuals living in the Tadla Azilal moroccan area. METHOD: 200 samples resulting from the morning urines of morning fasting individuals of the two sexes and different ages were collected. The pH was measured by a portable pH-meter "Pocket pH-meter ad 170 pH". The identification of the chemical nature of the crystalluria was carried out using a polarized light microscope "Olympus BX41". Such identification was based on morphology, polarization, and the pH of the urinary crystals. RESULTS: In this series the positive frequency of crystalluria was 25.4% and was distributed on 3 age groups so that 27.9% in the youngest group, 32.6% in the middle aged group and 39.5% in the oldest one. The distribution on the sex is such as 53.4% in the man and 46.5% in the woman. A large majority (83.7%) of the crystalluria consists of homogeneous crystalluria. In the man, the Weddellite is dominant (69.6%) in the crystalluria while in the woman the Weddellite yields the place to the two phases of the uric acid (60%). CONCLUSIONS: The studied series presents a non high frequency of crystalluria, which increases with the age. The factor sex has weakly increased the frequency of crystalluria in the man compared to the woman. The oxalocalcic nature is dominant in the crystalluria resulting from the man while it is the uric nature that is so in the woman. Other studies are necessary to be able to understand the etiology of a such difference, in the chemical nature of the crystalluria, between the two sexes.

Study of spontaneous crystalluria on a series of patients in the Tadla Azilal Moroccan area

OBJETIVO: Hay pocos estudios sobre la cristaluria en países en desarrollo. El objeto de este estudio fue llevar a cabo un primer estudio en Marruecos sobre la frecuencia y la naturaleza química de la cristaluria de los habitantes de la zona de Tadla Azilal en función del sexo y la edad. MÉTODOS: Se recogieron 200 muestras de orina de la primera micción de la mañana de individuos en ayunas de ambos sexos y diferentes edades. Se midieron pHs con un medidor de pH portátil “ Pocket pHmeter ad 110 pH”. La identificación de la naturaleza química de la cristaluria se llevó a cabo utilizando un microscopio de luz polarizada Olympus BX41. La identificación se basó en la morfología, la polarización y el pH de los cristales urinarios. RESULTADOS: En esta serie, la frecuencia de cristaluria fue de 25,4% y se distribuía en tres grupos de edad, con 27,9% en el grupo más joven, 32,6% en el grupo de edad media y 39,5% en el grupo de mayor edad. La distribución por sexos fue de 53,4% en varones y 46,5% de mujeres. Una gran mayoría (83,7%) de la cristaluria era cristaluria homogénea. En el varón la cristaluria dominante es la de oxalato cálcico (weddelita) (69, 6%), mientras que en la mujer cede el puesto a las dos fases de ácido úrico (60%). CONCLUSIONES: Las serie del estudio no presentan una frecuencia elevada de cristaluria, aunque aumenta con la edad. La frecuencia de cristaluria aumenta levemente en el hombre en comparación con la mujer. El oxalato cálcico domina en la cristaluria del varón mientras que el ácido úrico lo hace en la mujer. Se necesitan otros estudios para poder entender la etiología de la diferente naturaleza de la cristaluria entre sexos

OBJECTIVES: There are few studies on crystalluria in the developing countries. The aim of the present study was carrying out a first study in Morocco on the frequency and the chemical nature of the crystalluria according to the sex and the age of human individuals living in the Tadla Azilal moroccan area. METHOD: 200 samples resulting from the morning urines of morning fasting individuals of the two sexes and different ages were collected. The pH was measured by a portable pH-meter “Pocket pH-meter ad 110 pH”. The identification of the chemical nature of the crystalluria was carried out using a polarized light microscope “Olympus BX41”. Such identification was based on morphology, polarization, and the pH of the urinary crystals. RESULTS: In this series the positive frequency of crystalluria was 25.4 % and was distributed on 3 age groups so that 27.9% in the youngest group, 32.6% in the middle aged group and 39.5% in the oldest one. The distribution on the sex is such as 53.4% in the man and 46.5% in the woman. A large majority (83.7%) of the crystalluria consists of homogeneous crystalluria. In the man, the Weddellite is dominant (69.6%) in the crystalluria while in the woman the Weddellite yields the place to the two phases of the uric acid (60%). CONCLUSIONS: The studied series presents a non high frequency of crystalluria, which increases with the age. The factor sex has weakly increased the frequency of crystalluria in the man compared to the woman. The oxalocalcic nature is dominant in the crystalluria resulting from the man while it is the uric nature that is so in the woman. Other studies are necessary to be able to understand the etiology of a such difference, in the chemical nature of the crystalluria, between the two sexes

Enhanced ability of the progenipoietin-1 to suppress apoptosis in human hematopoietic cells.

Repopulating hematopoietic cell compartments after myeloablative chemotherapy remains a key factor in a successful chemotherapy program. Modified and chimeric cytokines have been developed to help reduce inflammation, fever and hospitalization time for patients. A chimeric cytokine, progenipoietin-1 (ProGP-1), containing the G-CSF and FL receptor agonists binds both the G-CSF receptor and FLT-3. It also stimulates the growth of dendritic cells, which play an important role in immunotherapy. While in vivo effects of ProGP-1 are well described, the mechanisms by which it stimulates growth are not well understood. We have investigated the effects of ProGP-1 on prevention of apoptosis in the human hematopoietic cell line OCI-AML.5. ProGP-1 promoted cellular proliferation better than G-CSF or FL separately but stimulated proliferation similar to their co-addition as demonstrated by growth curves and [3H]-thymidine incorporation. ProGP-1 prevented apoptosis to a greater degree than G-CSF or FL alone as determined by annexin V/propidium iodide binding and TUNEL assays. ProGP-1 promoted maintenance of the mitochondrial membrane potential better than G-CSF or FL alone. In addition, Pro-GP promoted a lower redox potential as higher levels of free radicals were detected after cytokine treatment than in cytokine-deprived cells implying increased respiration. These data indicate that ProGP-1 promotes the proliferation and prevents the apoptosis of human hematopoietic cells better than FL or G-CSF alone, and to a similar extent as their co-addition. Thus, ProGP-1 can be used to repopulate certain hematopoietic cells as a single entity rather than the introduction of two different cytokines.

[Analysis of urinary calculi in adults from the Moroccan Medium Atlas by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry]. / Analyse des calculs urinaires de l'adulte dans le Moyen Atlas marocain par spectrophotométrie infrarouge à transformée de Fourier.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the stone composition in adult patients from the medium Atlas of Morocco. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A series of 183 calculi from adult patients (males: 123, females: 60) collected in medium Atlas of Morocco was analysed by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy. The stones were surgically removed (n = 168) or spontaneously passed (n = 15). RESULTS: Kidney stones are encountered in 70.5% of calculi. The stones were twice frequent in males than in females (M/F = 2.10). Whewellite was the main component in 51.4% of the stones and 49.7% of the stone core, weddellite in only 7.1% of stones and 6.4% of the nuclei. Uric acid was predominant in 18% of stones and also 19.7% of nuclei, and carbapatite in 12.6% of stones and nuclei. All in all, whewellite was present in 77.6% of calculi and weddellite in 25.1%, carbapatite in 68.3% and PACC in 23.5%, struvite in 15.3%, uric acid in 20.8% and ammonium hydrogen urate in 14.2% of cases. Struvite stones were more frequent in females and uric acid calculi in males, in particular in patients aged more than 60 years old. CONCLUSION: As observed in most countries, calcium oxalate was the most frequent major component of the stones (58.5%). Uric acid stones were more frequent (18%) than reported in Western countries, thus suggesting that particular dietary habits are involved in stone formation. The relatively high occurrence of struvite stones (8%) could be a marker of an insufficient early detection and treatment of chronic urinary tract infection.

[Infrared spectrometry and urolithiasis. Report of 80 cases]. / Spectrophotométrie infrarouge et lithiase urinaire. A propos de 80 cas.

Urolithiasis is a frequent disorder that is characterized by its recurrence following treatment and which can affect between 3-20% of the population, with an incidence that differs from country to country. The aim of the present study was to determine the composition of the calculi, and the remain characteristics of this pathology in Morocco. A series of 80 calculi was therefore analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The findings showed that calcium monohydrate oxalate was the main lithiasic component, indicating that hyperoxaluria plays a major role in the formation of the calculi. The component identified were as follows: calcium oxalate (58.75%), calcium phosphate and magnesium phosphate (17.5%), uric acid (15%), and urate (8.75%). In 91.25% of cases, the calculi were of mixed composition. Regular patient follow-up is advocated and subjects should be informed of the risk factor involved, as urolithiasic recurrence was observed in 10% of the cases in this series.

[Analysis of calculi by infrared spectroscopy in children from the Moroccan mid-Atlas region]. / Analyse de la lithiase de l'enfant dans le Moyen Atlas marocain par spectrophotométrie infrarouge.

Calculi from 45 Moroccan children aged between 2 and 15 years underwent morphological and infrared spectrometric analysis. The stones were three times more frequent in males than females (M/F = 3.09). Whewellite was the main component in 51.1% of cases and in 44.4% of stone nuclei, wheddellite in 8.9% of stones and nuclei, carbapatite in 6.7% of stones and 8.9% of nuclei, struvite in 15.6% of stones and 11.1% of nuclei. Ammonium hydrogen urate and uric acid were predominant respectively in 8.9% and 6.7% of stones and in 15.6% and 11.1% of nuclei. In addition to whewellite, struvite and ammonium hydrogen urate were the main components of bladder stones from both sexes. With respect to their calculi, whewellite was present in 84.4% of cases and wheddellite in 26.7%. Purines were present in 46% of calculi, especially as ammonium urate (28.9%) and uric acid (15.6%). Calcium phosphates as the main components were infrequent. In contrast, they were frequently identified in urinary calculi from children, respectively 64.4% and 40% for carbapatite and amorphous carbonated calcium phosphate.