Genetic analysis of a worldwide barley collection for resistance to net form of net blotch disease (Pyrenophora teres f. teres).

KEY MESSAGE: A total of 449 barley accessions were phenotyped for Pyrenophora teres f. teres resistance at three locations and in greenhouse trials. Genome-wide association studies identified 254 marker-trait associations corresponding to 15 QTLs. Net form of net blotch is one of the most important diseases of barley and is present in all barley growing regions. Under optimal conditions, it causes high yield losses of 10-40% and reduces grain quality. The most cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to prevent losses is growing resistant cultivars, and markers linked to effective resistance factors can accelerate the breeding process. Here, 449 barley accessions expressing different levels of resistance comprising landraces and commercial cultivars from the centres of diversity were selected. The set was phenotyped for seedling resistance to three isolates in controlled-environment tests and for adult plant resistance at three field locations (Belarus, Germany and Australia) and genotyped with the 50 k iSelect chip. Genome-wide association studies using 33,818 markers and a compressed mixed linear model to account for population structure and kinship revealed 254 significant marker-trait associations corresponding to 15 distinct QTL regions. Four of these regions were new QTL that were not described in previous studies, while a total of seven regions influenced resistance in both seedlings and adult plants.

"Proceedings of the 22nd Aschauer Soiree on Growth and Health Screening", held at Altenhof, Germany, November 15th, 2014.

Twenty-five scientists met at Aschauhof, Altenhof, Germany, to discuss various aspects of the complex network of modern health screening, focusing on current scientific topics including medical sciences, human biology, and mathematics; on problems in implementing these results at the practical level of physicians, nurses, technicians, and engineers; and the level of administrative and political decisions. Whereas major scientific advancements have been published in the understanding and the bio-statistical evaluation of anthropometric screening parameters such as serial measurements of height and weight for preventive medical check-ups, BMI screening and surveillance in schools, etc., the implementation of these advancements into current health screening concepts, strategies and decision-making is poor. Fear of discrimination, misperception of body image, behavioural responses and political concerns, meanwhile dominate and negatively interfere with the implementation of recent scientific results into public health screening concepts and practices.

Association of Blood NK Cell Phenotype with the Severity of Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Chronic Viral Hepatitis C with Genotype 1 or 3.

BACKGROUND: NK cells phenotype and functional state in different genotypes of chronic viral hepatitis C (CVHC), depending on liver fibrosis severity, have not been sufficiently studied, which limits the possibilities for the development of pathology therapy. METHODS: The CVHC diagnosis was based on the EASL recommendations (2018). Clinical examination with liver elastometry was performed in 297 patients with genotype 1 and in 231 patients with genotype 3 CVHC. The blood NK cells phenotype was determined by flow cytometry in 74 individuals with genotype 1 and in 69 individuals with genotype 3 CVHC. RESULTS: The frequency of METAVIR liver fibrosis stages F3-F4 was 32.5% in individuals with genotype 3, and 20.5% in individuals with genotype 1 CVHC (p = 0.003). In patients with both genotype 1 and genotype 3 CVHC, a decrease in the total number of blood NK cells, CD56brightCD16+ NK cells and an increase in the proportion of CD56dimCD16+ NK cells, CD94+ and CD38 + CD73+ NK cells were registered in patients with fibrosis stage F3-F4 by METAVIR in comparison with persons with METAVIR fibrosis stage F0-F1. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with both genotype 1 and genotype 3 CVHC, an imbalance in the ratio between cytokine-producing and cytotoxic NK cells and an increase in the content of NK cells that express inhibitory molecules were determined in patients with severe liver fibrosis.

The Case of the Vanishing Vessel Loop: Unrecognized Removal Via Laparoscopic Suction Device.

Although the incidence rate of retained surgical items is low, it remains an important cause of patient injury and can lead to harm, death, and waste of time and resources when looking for the missing item. Perioperative counting of equipment is a common method to identify missing surgical items. We present a rare case report of a missing vessel loop that was suctioned by a suction irrigator device. The diagnosis of a retained surgical item is extremely important; special attention should be paid when suctioning body liquids with small surgical items nearby, to prevent incidences of missing items after the surgery.

Toxicity of Carbon, Silicon, and Metal-Based Nanoparticles to the Hemocytes of Three Marine Bivalves.

Nanoparticles (NPs) have broad applications in medicine, cosmetics, optics, catalysis, environmental purification, and other areas nowadays. With increasing annual production of NPs, the risks of their harmful influence on the environment and human health are also increasing. Currently, our knowledge about the mechanisms of the interaction between NPs and living organisms is limited. The marine species and their habitat environment are under continuous stress owing to the anthropogenic activities, which result in the release of NPs in the aquatic environment. We used a bioassay model with hemocytes of three bivalve mollusc species, namely, Crenomytilus grayanus, Modiolus modiolus, and Arca boucardi, to evaluate the toxicity of 10 different types of NPs. Specifically, we compared the cytotoxic effects and cell-membrane polarization changes in the hemocytes exposed to carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, silicon nanotubes, cadmium and zinc sulfides, Au-NPs, and TiO2 NPs. Viability and the changes in hemocyte membrane polarization were measured by the flow cytometry method. The highest aquatic toxicity was registered for metal-based NPs, which caused cytotoxicity to the hemocytes of all the studied bivalve species. Our results also highlighted different sensitivities of the used tested mollusc species to specific NPs.

Genetic Characterization of Resistance to Pyrenophora teres f. teres in the International Barley Differential Canadian Lake Shore.

Genetic resistance to net form of net blotch in the international barley differential Canadian Lake Shore (CLS) was characterized and mapped. A doubled haploid (DH) population generated from a cross between CLS and susceptible cultivar Harrington was evaluated at the seedling stage using eight diverse Pyrenophora teres f. teres (Ptt) isolates and at the adult stage in the field using natural inoculum. To effectively map the CLS resistance, comparative marker frequency analysis (MFA) was performed using 8,762 polymorphic DArT-seq markers, where 'resistant' and 'susceptible' groups each comprised 40 DH lines displaying the most extreme phenotypes. Five DArTseq markers were consistently detected in eight disease assays, which was designated qPttCLS and deemed to harbor the locus underpinning CLS resistance. Four of these markers were present onto the barley DArTseq physical map and spans a region between 398203862 and 435526243 bp which were found to consist several genes involved in important plant functions such as disease response and signaling pathways. While MFA only detected the 3H region, genetic analyses based on segregation patterns were inconsistent, suggesting complex inheritance or variation in phenotypic expression of qPttCLS, particularly in the field. This study represents progress toward connecting Ptt pathotype surveys with the corresponding resistance genes in barley differentials. The markers associated with qPttCLS are useful for marker-assisted selection in breeding programs.