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2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago Larregla ◽  
Maite Gandariasbeitia ◽  
Mikel Ojinaga ◽  
Sorkunde Mendarte ◽  
María del Mar Guerrero ◽  
...  

Phytophthora capsici is one of the oomycetes that affects protected pepper crops in different agroclimatic areas of Spain. Currently, environmentally friendly strategies such as biodisinfestation for plant disease control have become increasingly popular. In this study, the effect of released gases during biodisinfestation with a fresh manures mixture amendment on P. capsici oospore viability was determined. A biodisinfestation trial was performed in a greenhouse located in northern Spain (Biscay), with a mixture of fresh sheep (2 kg m−2) and dry poultry manures (0.5 kg m−2) followed by soil sealing with a transparent polyethylene plastic film for 21 days (onset June 15th). Gases were sampled from the aerial cavity of biodisinfested plots at different days after soil sealing (0–1–2–3–4–7–9–11, and 14 days). Vacutainer tubes were incubated at 20°C with oospores of P. capsici that were previously placed under vacuum and refilled with extracted gases. Treatments assayed were gases from different sampling times (0–1–2–3–4–7–9–11–14 days, and succession of days 1–2–3–4–7–9–11–14) combined with different exposure times (7–14–21 days) at 20°C in the laboratory. Control treatments were included: air-tubes and vacuum-tubes. An additional reference treatment under real field conditions was also considered: buried oospores at 15 cm depth in the biodisinfested plots. Oospore viability was determined with the plasmolysis method. The most effective treatment was the succession of gases collected during all sampling days. The significant but slight reduction in oospore viability by exposure to the different gas treatments was consistent with the low dose of applied amendment and the low soil temperature registered at 15 cm depth during soil biodisinfestation (>25°C−100% time, >35°C−23%, >40°C−3%). The above circumstances might have generated a small quantity of gases with low impact on oospore viability. The biodisinfested soil at 15 cm depth reference treatment showed the lowest oospore viability in all the exposure times assayed. The overlap of thermal and higher biofumigation effects in this treatment could likely be responsible for its greater efficacy. A disinfectant effect purely attributable to released gases throughout biodisinfestation has been demonstrated. We believe that our research will serve as a base for future application in agro-environments with reduced thermal inactivation effects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volker Krömker ◽  
Anne Schmenger ◽  
Doris Klocke ◽  
Ellen Maria Mansion-de Vries ◽  
Nicole Wente ◽  
...  

To reduce ineffective antimicrobial usage in the treatment of non-severe clinical mastitis (CM) in cows with long-lasting udder diseases, non-antibiotic therapy with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) was conducted and evaluated in a non-blinded, positively controlled, non-inferiority trial. Therefore, three-time systemic ketoprofen treatment at intervals of 24 h was evaluated in comparison with the reference treatment of solely antibiotic therapy in a field study on nine free-stall dairy farms located in Northern Germany. Cows with previous CM cases in current lactation and/or with long-lasting high somatic cell counts in preceding dairy herd improvement test days were randomly allocated to one of the two treatment groups in cases of mild to moderate CM. Quarter foremilk samples of the affected quarters were taken for cyto-bacteriological investigation before treatment as well as ~14 and 21 d after termination of therapy. Both treatment groups were compared regarding the bacteriological cure (BC) as the primary outcome. Clinical cure (CC) and no CM relapse within 60 d after the end of treatment (no R60) were chosen as secondary outcomes. The study resulted in the following outcomes: Streptococcus uberis was most frequently identified in microbiological culture from pre-treatment samples, followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and other coliforms. No significant differences between the NSAID treatment and the reference treatment were detected regarding CC and CM recurrence (no R60). Although the sole ketoprofen therapy resulted in a numerically lower likelihood of BC, there were no significant differences to the reference treatment. Considering the selection criteria in this study, the results indicate that in mild to moderate CM cases exclusive treatment with ketoprofen may constitute an alternative to antimicrobial intramammary therapy, providing an opportunity for reduction of antibiotic usage. However, non-inferiority evaluations were inconclusive. Further investigations with a larger sample size are required to confirm the results and to make a distinct statement on non-inferiority.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurullah Okumuş ◽  
Neşe Demirtürk ◽  
Rıza Aytaç Çetinkaya ◽  
Rahmet Güner ◽  
İsmail Yaşar Avcı ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and objectives An effective treatment option is not yet available for SARS-CoV2, which causes the COVID-19 pandemic and whose effects are felt more and more every day. Ivermectin is among the drugs whose effectiveness in treatment has been investigated. In this study; it was aimed to investigate the presence of gene mutations that alter ivermectin metabolism and cause toxic effects in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, and to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ivermectin use in the treatment of patients without mutation. Materials and methods Patients with severe COVID19 pneumonia were included in the study, which was planned as a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind phase 3 study. Two groups, the study group and the control group, took part in the study. Ivermectin 200 mcg/kg/day for 5 days in the form of a solution prepared for enteral use added to the reference treatment protocol -hydroxychloroquine + favipiravir + azithromycin- of patients included in the study group. Patients in the control group were given only reference treatment with 3 other drugs without ivermectin. The presence of mutations was investigated by performing sequence analysis in the mdr1/abcab1 gene with the Sanger method in patients included in the study group according to randomization. Patients with mutations were excluded from the study and ivermectin treatment was not continued. Patients were followed for 5 days after treatment. At the end of the treatment and follow-up period, clinical response and changes in laboratory parameters were evaluated. Results A total of 66 patients, 36 in the study group and 30 in the control group were included in the study. Mutations affecting ivermectin metabolism was detected in genetic tests of six (16.7%) patients in the study group and they were excluded from the study. At the end of the 5-day follow-up period, the rate of clinical improvement was 73.3% (22/30) in the study group and was 53.3% (16/30) in the control group (p = 0.10). At the end of the study, mortality developed in 6 patients (20%) in the study group and in 9 (30%) patients in the control group (p = 0.37). At the end of the follow-up period, the average peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) values of the study and control groups were found to be 93.5 and 93.0%, respectively. Partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)/FiO2 ratios were determined as 236.3 ± 85.7 and 220.8 ± 127.3 in the study and control groups, respectively. While the blood lymphocyte count was higher in the study group compared to the control group (1698 ± 1438 and 1256 ± 710, respectively) at the end of the follow-up period (p = 0.24); reduction in serum C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin and D-dimer levels was more pronounced in the study group (p = 0.02, p = 0.005 and p = 0.03, respectively). Conclusions According to the findings obtained, ivermectin can provide an increase in clinical recovery, improvement in prognostic laboratory parameters and a decrease in mortality rates even when used in patients with severe COVID-19. Consequently, ivermectin should be considered as an alternative drug that can be used in the treatment of COVID-19 disease or as an additional option to existing protocols.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurullah Okumuş ◽  
Nese Demirtürk ◽  
Rıza Aytaç ÇETİNKAYA ◽  
Rahmet GÜNER ◽  
İsmail Yaşar Avcı ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:An effective treatment option is not yet available for SARS-CoV2, which causes the COVID-19 pandemic and whose effects are felt more and more every day. Ivermectin is among the drugs whose effectiveness in treatment has been investigated. In this study; it was aimed to investigate the presence of gene mutations that alter ivermectin metabolism and cause toxic effects in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, and to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ivermectin use in the treatment of patients without mutation.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with severe COVID19 pneumonia were included in the study, which was planned as a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind phase 3 study. Two groups, the study group and the control group, took part in the study. Ivermectin 200 mcg/kg/day for five days in the form of a solution prepared for enteral use added to the reference treatment protocol -hydroxychloroquine + favipiravir + azithromycin- of patients included in the study group. Patients in the control group were given only reference treatment with 3 other drugs without ivermectin. The presence of mutations was investigated by performing sequence analysis in the mdr1/abcab1 gene with the Sanger method in patients included in the study group according to randomization. Patients with mutations were excluded from the study and ivermectin treatment was not continued. Patients were followed for 5 days after treatment. At the end of the treatment and follow-up period, clinical response and changes in laboratory parameters were evaluated.RESULTS: A total of 66 patients, 36 in the study group and 30 in the control group were included in the study. Mutations affecting ivermectin metabolism was detected in genetic tests of six (16.7%) patients in the study group and they were excluded from the study. At the end of the 5-day follow-up period, the clinical improvement rate was higher in the study group [22/30 (73.3%)] compared to the control group [16/30 (53.3%)] (p=0.10). At the end of the study, mortality developed in 6 patients (20%) in the study group and in 9 (30%) patients in the control group (p=0.37). At the end of the follow-up period, the average peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) values of the study and control groups were found to be 93.5% and 93.0%, respectively. Partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)/FiO2 ratios were determined as 236.3 ± 85.7 and 220.8 ± 127.3 in the study and control groups, respectively. While the blood lymphocyte count was higher in the study group compared to the control group (1698±1438 and 1256±710, respectively) at the end of the follow-up period (p=0.24); reduction in serum C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin and D-dimer levels was more pronounced in the study group (p=0.02, p=0.005 and p=0.03, respectively).CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings obtained, ivermectin can provide an increase in clinical recovery, improvement in prognostic laboratory parameters and a decrease in mortality rates even when used in patients with severe COVID-19. Consequently, ivermectin should be considered as an important alternative to the treatment of COVID-19 disease or as an additional option to existing protocols.


Holzforschung ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaye Kose Demirel ◽  
Ali Temiz ◽  
Sabrina Palanti ◽  
Nasko Terziev

AbstractSamples of Scots pine sapwood were treated with epoxidized linseed and soybean oils to improve decay, insect and termite resistance of wood. Non-epoxidized (raw) linseed and soybean oils were included as reference treatment in the study. In the epoxidation process, hydrogen peroxide was used to open double bounds, and acetic acid was added as a catalyst. Two retention levels, Ret A (80–140 kg m−3) and Ret B (170–270 kg m−3), two impregnation methods (full cell and empty cell) and emulsion technique were used. Samples treated with epoxidized oils had significantly lower mass losses than untreated samples while epoxidized oils showed higher mass losses than unepoxidized oils for Coniophora puteana and Trametes versicolor according to EN 113 for decay test. By adding boron, fungicidal properties were introduced to the treatment. All the vegetable oils showed 100% the mortality rate against larvae of Hylotrupes bajulus according to EN 47. Moreover, leached wood samples treated with oils also showed 100% larvae mortality. Additionally, termite testing based on EN 117 revealed 100% Reticulitermes lucifugus mortality for all leached oil treated samples.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-71
Author(s):  
Helizani C. Bazame ◽  
Francisco A.C. Pinto ◽  
Domingos S. Queiroz ◽  
Daniel M. de Queiroz ◽  
Daniel Althoff

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the use of spectral sensors to determine nitrogen fertilizer requirements for pastures of Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés in Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized block design with 4 replications of 4 treatments: a control treatment (TT) without application of N; a reference treatment (TR) with N applied at a standard predetermined fixed rate (150 kg urea/ha/cycle); a treatment using GreenSeekerTM (TG) to determine N requirement by the canopy normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI); and a treatment using SPAD 502 (TS) to determine N requirement by foliar chlorophyll assessment. For treatments involving spectral sensors, N fertilizer was applied at half the rate of that in the reference treatment at the beginning of each cycle and further N was applied only when the nitrogen sufficiency index dropped below 0.85. The sensors used in the work indicated that no additional N fertilizer was required by these pastures above the half rates applied. Applying N at the reduced rates to the pastures was more efficient than the pre-determined fixed rate, as both sensor treatments and the fixed rate treatment produced similar total forage yields, with similar crude protein concentrations. All fertilized pastures supported similar stocking rates, while the sensor treatments used less N fertilizer, i.e. 75 kg urea/ha/cycle less than the reference plot. Longer-term studies to verify these findings are warranted followed by promotion of the technology to farmers to possibly reduce fertilizer application rates, improve profitability and provide environmental benefits.


Biostatistics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samiran Ghosh ◽  
Erina Paul ◽  
Shrabanti Chowdhury ◽  
Ram C. Tiwari

Summary With the availability of limited resources, innovation for improved statistical method for the design and analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is of paramount importance for newer and better treatment discovery for any therapeutic area. Although clinical efficacy is almost always the primary evaluating criteria to measure any beneficial effect of a treatment, there are several important other factors (e.g., side effects, cost burden, less debilitating, less intensive, etc.), which can permit some less efficacious treatment options favorable to a subgroup of patients. This leads to non-inferiority (NI) testing. The objective of NI trial is to show that an experimental treatment is not worse than an active reference treatment by more than a pre-specified margin. Traditional NI trials do not include a placebo arm for ethical reason; however, this necessitates stringent and often unverifiable assumptions. On the other hand, three-arm NI trials consisting of placebo, reference, and experimental treatment, can simultaneously test the superiority of the reference over placebo and NI of experimental treatment over the reference. In this article, we proposed both novel Frequentist and Bayesian procedures for testing NI in the three-arm trial with Poisson distributed count outcome. RCTs with count data as the primary outcome are quite common in various disease areas such as lesion count in cancer trials, relapses in multiple sclerosis, dermatology, neurology, cardiovascular research, adverse event count, etc. We first propose an improved Frequentist approach, which is then followed by it’s Bayesian version. Bayesian methods have natural advantage in any active-control trials, including NI trial when substantial historical information is available for placebo and established reference treatment. In addition, we discuss sample size calculation and draw an interesting connection between the two paradigms.


Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Po-Cheng Hsu ◽  
Wei-Ting Wu ◽  
Der-Sheng Han ◽  
Ke-Vin Chang

Botulinum toxin (BoNT) injection is regarded as a promising treatment for musculoskeletal pain. However, its efficacy for treating chronic shoulder pain remains unclear. We investigated the effectiveness of BoNT injections for chronic shoulder pain by conducting a systematic search of electronic databases up to March 2020 for randomized control trials (RCTs) that used BoNT injections for chronic shoulder pain treatment. The primary outcome was the between-group comparison of pain reduction, quantified by the standardized mean difference (SMD). Nine RCTs comprising 666 patients were included and divided into two groups: one group with shoulder joint pain (n = 182) and the other group with shoulder myofascial pain (n = 484). Regarding shoulder joint pain, the efficacy of BoNT injections was similar to that of the reference treatment (SMD: −0.605, 95% confidence level [CI]: −1.242 to 0.032 versus saline; SMD: −0.180, 95% CI: −0.514 to 0.153 versus corticosteroids) at one month post-intervention, and was superior (SMD: −0.648, 95% CI: −0.1071 to −0.225 versus corticosteroids) between one and three months. Likewise, in terms of shoulder myofascial pain, the effectiveness of BoNT injections did not differ from the reference treatment (SMD: −0.212, 95% CI: −0.551 to 0.127 versus saline; SMD: 0.665, 95% CI: −0.260 to 1.590 versus dry needling and SMD: 1.093; 95% CI: 0.128 to 2.058 versus lidocaine) at one month post- intervention, and appeared superior (SMD: −0.314, 95% CI: −0.516 to −0.111 versus saline) between one and three months. Our meta-analysis revealed that BoNT injections could be a safe and effective alternative for patients with chronic shoulder pain.


Games ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Alice Ciccone ◽  
Ole Rogeberg ◽  
Ragnhild Braaten

Is the willingness to make trades influenced by how the total gains from trade are split between the trading partners? We present results from a bilateral trade game (n = 128) where all participants were price-takers and trading pairs faced one of three exogenously imposed trading prices. The fixed prices divided the gains either symmetrically in the reference treatment or asymmetrically in treatments favoring either the buyer or seller. Price treatments generating asymmetric gains from trade reduced desired transaction levels on both sides of the market, but more strongly by the disfavored party. The data weakly indicated a larger reduction when the disfavored party was a seller.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Mulcaire-Jones ◽  
David K. Bailly ◽  
Deborah U. Frank ◽  
Anupam R. Verma ◽  
Bradley J. Barney ◽  
...  

AbstractNeonatal aortic thrombosis is a rare occurrence but can be life-threatening. Most aortic thrombosis in neonates is related to umbilical artery catheters. A case of a neonate with a spontaneous aortic thrombosis is described here along with a comprehensive review of the literature for cases of neonatal aortic thrombosis not related to any intravascular device or procedure. The aetiologies of these spontaneous thromboses and the relevance of hypercoagulable disorders are discussed. The cases were analysed for odds of death by treatment method adjusted for era. The reference treatment method was thrombolysis and anticoagulation. No other treatment modality had significantly lower odds than the reference. Surgery alone had higher odds for death than the reference, but this may be confounded by severity of case. The management recommendations for clinicians encountering neonates with spontaneous neonatal aortic thrombosis are discussed.


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