Potential global distribution of Aleurocanthus woglumi considering climate change and irrigation

Citrus blackfly, Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is an important agricultural quarantine pest, causing substantial economic losses to citrus and many other cultivated crops. Aleurocanthus woglumi is found in tropical and subtropical regions but is presently unknown in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. We used CLIMEX to model the potential distribution of A. woglumi under an historical climate scenario (centred on 1995), including a spatially explicit irrigation scenario. We found that A. woglumi could potentially invade the Mediterranean Basin, and south-east Asia, including Australia. There is potential for it to invade most of sub-Saharan Africa. Irrigation is revealed as an important habitat factor affecting the potential distribution of A. woglumi, increasing its potential range by 53% in Asia. Under a future climate scenario for 2050, its potential distribution increased across all continents except Africa, where potential range expansion due to relaxation of cold stresses was limited, and was offset by range decrease due to lethal heat or dry stress. As global climates warm, Europe is likely to face a substantial increase in the area at risk of establishment by A. woglumi (almost doubling under the 2050 irrigation scenario). The biosecurity threat from A. woglumi is significant in current citrus production areas and poses a challenge to biosecurity managers and risk analysts.

Property Risk Assessment of Sinkhole Hazard in Louisiana, U.S.A

Sinkholes (or dolines) are an often-overlooked environmental hazard. The processes that lead to their formation are slow and insidious, which encourage a lack of awareness or concern for the potential danger, until the sudden, climactic formation leads to unexpected property damage and possibly human casualties. This research identifies the risk to residential properties to the sinkhole hazard, using Louisiana, United States as a case study. Risk is defined as the product of the hazard intensity and the loss to structure and contents within the building resulting from the hazard-related disaster. Results suggest that risk is highly scale-dependent. Although the risk due to sinkholes is small on a per capita basis statewide, especially when compared to the per capita risk of other natural hazards, the property risk for census tracts or census blocks partially or completely overlying a salt dome is substantial. At finer scales, Terrebonne Parish, in coastal southeastern Louisiana, has the greatest concentration of salt domes, while Madison Parish, which is east of Monroe, has the highest percentage of area at risk for sinkhole formation, and St. Mary Parish—immediately west of Terrebonne—has the greatest risk of property loss. An Acadia Parish census tract has the maximum annual property losses in 2050 projected at $40,047 (2010$), and the highest projected annual per building ($43) and per capita ($18) property loss are in the same St. Mary Parish census tract. At the census block level, maximum annual property loss ($7,040) is projected for a census block within Cameron Parish, with maximum annual per building loss ($85 within West Baton Rouge Parish), and maximum per capita annual property loss ($120 within Plaquemines Parish). The method presented in this paper is developed generally, allowing application for risk assessment in other locations. The results generated by the methodology are important to local, state, and national emergency management efforts. Further, the general public of Louisiana, and other areas where the developed method is applied, may benefit by considering sinkhole risk when purchasing, remodeling, and insuring a property, including as a basis of comparison to the risk from other types of hazard.

Cardioprotective Effect of Pretreatment with A Single High-Dose Atorvastatin via Regulating Myocardial Uncoupling Protein 3 in a Rat Ischemia/Reperfusion Model

Objective: Since ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) can cause malignant arrhythmia, we explored the cardioprotective effect of pretreatment with a single and large dose of atorvastatin in the SD rat model. Methods: Rats were distributed into atorvastatin (Ator), I/R model and sham groups (n = 8/group) by random number table method. In Ator group, atorvastatin was gavaged with a single dose (80 mg/kg) 12 h before I/R. The heart was treated with ischemia for 30 min and then reperfusion for 2 h. Results: Myocardial infarct area was induced by I/R when compared with Sham group. Compared with I/R group, the pretreatment of atorvastatin significantly reduced area at risk/left ventricle (40.78 ± 1.39% vs. 46.76 ± 1.42%, p < 0.01), infarct area/area at risk (21.47 ± 1.65% vs. 29.16 ± 1.21%, p < 0.01), and lactate dehydrogenase activity (3056.17 ± 136.22 RFU vs. 3864.15 ± 162.92 RFU, p < 0.05). I/R induced uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) in transcriptional and translational levels, but atorvastatin significantly increased the UCP3 expression when compared with I/R group, 1.91 ± 0.42 vs. 1.42 ± 0.21 fold (p < 0.05) in mRNA levels measured by RT-PCR and 2.07 ± 0.18 versus 1.45 ± 0.23 fold in protein levels by Western blots. Conclusion: A single high-dose atorvastatin pretreatment 12 h before I/R reduces the infarct area in I/R model in rats. The cardioprotection may be via regulating myocardial UCP3.

SWI as a promising tool comparable to CT perfusion in evaluation of acute cerebral infarction

Background The recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging techniques have improved the assessment of acute stroke. Susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) has a crucial role in the management plan of cerebral ischemia. This study was aimed to assess the role of susceptibility-weighted imaging in assessment of area at risk (pneumbra) compared to CT perfusion in patients with acute ischemic infraction. Results We found the mean aspect score for SWI 4 ± 1.4 and mean aspect for DWI 7.6 ± 1.2; in addition, mean aspect for CTP was 4.6 ± 1.3. Significant difference is noted between the SWI and DWI with significant p value. But there is no significant difference between the SWI and CTP ASPECT scores. Conclusion SWI is a promising technique and comparable to CT perfusion is evaluation of penumbra in the settings of acute infarction.

Acute administration of the olive constituent, oleuropein, combined with post-conditioning mechanism exerts cardioprotective effects by modulating oxidative defense

Background/Introduction Oleuropein (oleu), the main polyphenolic constituent of olive, has cardioprotective effects against ischemia (I) – reperfusion (R) injury (IRI) when administered chronically. Purpose We aimed to assess the cardioprotection afforded by acute administration of oleu, to evaluate the underlying mechanism and whether it could enhance or imbed the cardioprotective manifestation of ischemic postconditioning (PostC). Methods Male rabbits were subjected to I/R (30/180 min) and randomized to 7 groups: (i) Control (ii) PostC: 8 cycles of 30-sec I/R at the onset of R; (iii) Oleu (100 mg/kg, iv bolus) at the 20th min of I; (iv) Oleu+NOS inhibitor (L-NAME, 10mg/kg); (v) Oleu+PI3K/Akt inhibitor (wortmannin, 60 μg/kg); (vi) Oleu+JAK2 inhibitor (AG490, 6μg/kg/min) and (vii) Oleu+PostC. Additionally, male C57BL6/J mice, subjected to I/R (30/180 min) and randomized to 4 groups: (i) Control; (ii) PostC: 3 cycles of 10-sec I/R at the onset of R; (iii) Oleu (350 mg/kg, iv bolus) at the 20th min of I; (iv) Oleu+PostC. In both animal models, infarct size (IS) expressed as percentage of infarct to area at risk ratio (I/R, %) was determined. Oleu's effect on cardiomyocytes was measured by MTT assay in adult rat cardiomyocytes exposed to simulated I (SI) and reoxygenation. We also assessed the effect of oleu on mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) through calcium retention capacity (CRC) assay and on cGMP accumulation in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. In a mouse model of IRI, we explored the effect of oleu on the recruitment of inflammatory monocytes and neutrophils in the IR heart using flow cytometry, whereas the effect of oleu on Nrf-2 signaling pathway-related genes was analyzed by western blot. Results In both animal models acute oleu administration reduced significantly the IS compared to the control group. None of the inhibitors of the classic cardioprotective pathways influence its IS limiting effects in rabbits. Combination of oleu with PostC caused further limitation of IS compared to PostC in both animal models (I/R Rabbits: 14.6±0.9 vs. 26.7±2.7%, p&lt;0.01 and I/R mice: 11.5±1.8 vs. 20.3±1.8%, p&lt;0.01). Oleu had a direct protective effect on cardiomyocytes since it significantly increased their viability following SI-reoxygenation injury as compared to non-treated cells. Oleu did not inhibit the calcium induced mPTP opening in isolated mitochondria and did not increase cGMP production. Oleu, PostC and their combination reduced inflammatory monocytes infiltration into the heart and the circulating monocytes. Oleu conferred additive cardioprotection on top of PostC, via increasing the expression of Nrf-2 and its downstream targets (HO-1 and SOD-2). Conclusion(s) Acute oleu administration combined with PostC provides robust and synergistic cardioprotection in experimental models of IRI by inducing antioxidant defense genes through Nrf-2 axis and independently of the classic cardioprotective signaling pathways. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

A Spatial Structure Variable Approach to Characterize Storm Events for Coastal Flood Hazard Assessment

Over the last decades, the evaluation of hazards and risks associated with coastal flooding has become increasingly more important in order to protect population and assets. The general purpose of this research was to assess reliable coastal flooding hazard maps due to overflow and wave overtopping. This paper addresses the problem of defining credible joint statistics of significant wave heights Hs and water levels ζ, focusing on the selection of the sample pair that characterizes each sea storm, to evaluate the occurrence probability of extreme events. The pair is selected maximizing a spatial structure variable, i.e., a linear combination of Hs and Relaix, F., Zammit, P.S. Satellite cells are essential for skeletal muscle, specific to each point of the area at risk. The structure variable is defined by the sensitivity of the flooding process to Hs and ζ, as found by analyzing a set of inundation maps produced through a Simplified Shallow-Water numerical model (SSW). The proposed methodology is applied to a coastal stretch in the Venetian littoral (Italy), by means of a 30 year-long time series recorded at the “Acqua Alta” oceanographic research tower, located in the Northern Adriatic Sea in front of the Venetian lagoon. The critical combination of Hs and ζ forming the structure variable is presented in a map, and it can be related to the topography and the presence of mitigation measures. The return period associated with the two recent large storms that occurred in this area in 2018 and 2019 is also investigated. The proposed procedure gives credible occurrence probabilities for these events, whereas other approaches would consider them extremely unlikely.

Assessment of Myocardial Salvage Index after Primary Percutaneous Intervention of ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Using Myocardial Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques

Objectives: The aim of this work was assessment of myocardial salvage using various magnetic resonance imaging techniques immediately after primary percutaneous coronary intervention of ST elevation myocardial infarction patients and at midterm follow up. Methods: The current study was conducted on 30 patients referred to Aswan heart center or Cardiology department, Tanta University hospital with a diagnosis of ST elevation myocardial infarction during the period from august2017 to December 2017. All patients were subjected to history taking ,clinical assessment ,12 lead ECG, Laboratory biomarkers including cardiac enzyme biomarkers, complete blood count, liver function test, renal function test and lipid profile primary then primary percutaneous coronary intervention was done then cardiac magnetic resonance imaging within 3 days and after 3 months including the following sequences: Steady-state free precession, T2 weighted triple inversion recovery sequence and Early and late gadolinium enhancement to measure the area at risk and myocardial salvage index. Results: Myocardial salvage index was found to improve with improving thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow post intervention (p value=0.004), also the presence of microvascular obstruction (p value =0.034) and intramyocardial hemorrhage (p value=0.014) had a negative impact on myocardial salvage index. Peak cardiac enzyme biomarkers (troponin p value=0.001,CK p value=0.005,CKMB p value=0.002) were also associated with increased area at risk however did not affect the myocardial salvage index. Conclusion: Proper management of the occluded coronary artery is a corner stone in improving myocardial salvage index which can be properly assessed with cardiac MRI.

Activation of peripheral opioid κ1 receptor prevents cardiac reperfusion injury

The role of opioid κ1 and κ2 receptors in reperfusion cardiac injury was studied. Male Wistar rats were subjected to a 45-min coronary artery occlusion followed by a 120-min reperfusion. Opioid κ receptor agonists were administered intravenously 5 min before the onset of reperfusion, while opioid receptor antagonists were given 10 min before reperfusion. The average value of the infarct size/area at risk (IS/AAR) ratio was 43 – 48 % in untreated rats. Administration of the opioid κ1 receptor agonist (-)-U-50,488 (1 mg/kg) limited the IS/AAR ratio by 42 %. Administration of the opioid κ receptor agonist ICI 199,441 (0.1 mg/kg) limited the IS/AAR ratio by 41 %. The non-selective opioid κ receptor agonist (+)-U-50,488 (1 mg/kg) with low affinity for opioid κ receptor, the peripherally acting opioid κ receptor agonist ICI 204,448 (4 mg/kg) and the selective opioid κ2 receptor agonist GR89696 (0.1 mg/kg) had no effect on the IS/AAR ratio. Pretreatment with naltrexone, the peripherally acting opioid receptor antagonist naloxone methiodide, or the selective opioid κ receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine completely abolished the infarct-reducing effect of (-)-U-50,488 and ICI 199,441. Pretreatment with the selective opioid δ receptor antagonist TIPP[ψ] and the selective opioid µ receptor antagonist CTAP did not alter the infarct reducing effect of (-)-U-50,488 and ICI 199,441. Our study is the first to demonstrate the following: (a) the activation of opioid κ2 receptor has no effect on cardiac tolerance to reperfusion; (b) peripheral opioid κ1 receptor stimulation prevents reperfusion cardiac injury; (c) ICI 199,441 administration resulted in an infarct-reducing effect at reperfusion; (e) bradycardia induced by opioid κ receptor antagonists is not dependent on the occupancy of opioid κ receptor.

Morocco as a possible source for acquisition of Rhinocladiella mackenziei

Rhinocladiella mackenziei cerebral phaeohyphomycosis is a rare severe disease that has been typically described in the Middle East. Here, we report 2 cases of R. mackenziei cerebral phaeohyphomycosis in patients from Morocco, diagnosed and treated in France, and raise a concern about the ever-going extension of the area at risk for this devastating invasive fungal infection.

Hyperleptinemia Results in Systemic Inflammation and the Exacerbation of Ischemia-Reperfusion Myocardial Injury: The Involvement of the JAK/STAT Pathway

Hyperleptinemia potentiates the effects of many atherogenic factors, such as inflammation, platelet aggregation, migration, hypertrophy, proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cell dysfunction. The present study analysed the effects of long-term hyperleptinemia in an in vivo myocardial ischemia-reperfusion model to demonstrate whether the in vivo deleterious effect also affects cardiac structure and function. Rats by were subcutaneously administered leptin for 8 days to estimate the involvement of the JAK/STAT pathway. Data from 58 male Wistar rats were included in the final analysis. Myocardial infarction (MI) was modelled by the 30-minute ligation of the main left coronary artery followed by 120-minute reperfusion. Hemodynamic measurements, electrocardiography monitoring, echocardiography, myocardial infarct size and area at risk, blood biochemical parameters, leptin, IL-6, TNF-alpha, FGF-21, and cardiomyocyte morphology were measured. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics v.26. Seven-day hyperleptinemia in rats led to increased an blood pressure and heart rate, myocardial hypertrophy, impaired LV function, an increased frequency of ischemic arrhythmias, dyslipidaemia, systemic inflammation, and an increased size of induced myocardial infarction. The blockade of the JAK/STAT signalling pathway effectively reversed the negative effects of leptin, including increased blood pressure and total cholesterol.