Evaluation of Maize Hybrids for Identifying Resistance to Northern Corn Leaf Blight in Northeast China

Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) caused by Setosphaeria turcica is one of the most devastating foliar diseases in maize (Zea mays), resulting in great economic losses worldwide. The mutation of the pathogen exacerbates the occurrence and harmfulness of NCLB in China. Therefore, there is an urgent need for evaluating and cultivating resistant hybrids. Here, the response of 239 maize hybrids approved in Northeast China to NCLB was evaluated during 2019 and 2020. The results showed that 92 (38.49%) and 75 (31.38%) hybrids were rated as moderately resistant and resistant, respectively, which together constituted the predominant resistant categories. We observed that maize hybrids from different certified sources had different levels of resistance to NCLB, whose disease parameter values varied significantly (P <0.05) among 52 main cultivated hybrids. In 2019 and 2020, the average size of the lesions increased from 21.02 to 21.06 cm2, the average lesion density decreased from 1.36 to 1.33 lesions/100 cm2, and more than 30% of the hybrids registered final disease severity scores between 10% and 30%. The area under the disease progress curve of the main cultivated hybrids ranged from 57.96 to 986.86 cm2 in 2019 and from 50.75 to 1028.65 cm2 in 2020. Correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship (P <0.0001) among four disease parameters. Current research has shown that many maize hybrids in Northeast China are resistant to NCLB. This study should assist growers in purposefully selecting resistant commercial hybrids to contribute to the management of NCLB.

Incorporating coronary calcification by computed tomography into CHA2DS2-VASc score: impact on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation

Aims CHA2DS2-VASc score is widely utilized for risk stratification and guiding anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Cardiac computed tomography (CCT) routinely performed for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) can also identify coronary artery calcifications (CAC). We evaluated the frequency and outcomes of incorporating CAC into the CHA2DS2-VASc score in AF patients undergoing PVI. Methods and results Consecutive patients in a prospective PVI registry during 2014–18 having CCT within 1 year of PVI were studied. Reclassification of CHA2DS2-VASc score and associations between CAC as a binary variable detected on CCT with clinical characteristics, stroke as primary endpoint, death, myocardial infarction, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were analysed. Amongst 3604 AF patients, 2238 (62.1%) had CAC detected on CCT and was associated with most traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Coronary artery calcification was independently associated with all pre-specified endpoints adjusting for clinical parameters in multivariable analysis. Adjusting for CHA2DS2-VASc score, CAC was associated with stroke (hazards ratio 3.64, 95% confidence interval 1.25–10.6, P = 0.018), death (2.26, 1.29–3.98, P = 0.006), and MACE (2.08, 1.36–3.16, P = 0.001) during 2.8 ± 1.6-year follow-up. Incorporating CAC as a vascular disease parameter of CHA2DS2-VASc score, anticoagulation decision-making would be revised in 723 (20.1%) patients, including an additional 488 (13.5%) patients where anticoagulation would be now indicated. Conclusion Coronary artery calcification is prevalent in AF patients undergoing PVI and independently associated stroke, death and MACE even when adjusted for traditional CHA2DS2-VASc score. Adding CAC as vascular component to the CHA2DS2-VASc score requires further research as it potentially modified the anticoagulation management in 20% of our AF cohort.

EFFECT OF NISTHUSHAYADIKWATHA AND PHALATRIKADI KWATHA IN AMLAPITHA– A RANDOMISED COMPARATIVE CLINICAL STUDY

Amlapitta may be a clinical entity manifesting within the Annavaha Srotas. Kashyapa and Madhava have described this disease thoroughly. Amlapitta has become quite common because of the change within the food and life styles, sophistication and a stressful life. It is characterized by Avipaka, Klama, Tiktodhgara, Amlodhgara, Gaurava, Hritkanthadaha and Aruchi indicating the Vikruthi of Pachakapitta, Kledakakapha and Samanavata. The etiological factors and therefore the symptomatology manifested relate Amlapitta to diseases mentioned under Acid Peptic Disorders. Nistushayadi Kwatha and Phalatrikadi kwatha were selected. The main objectives of the study are to study and compare the effect of Nistushayadi Kwatha and effect of Phalatrikadi kwatha in the management of Amlapitta. A total of 40 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected, and randomly assigned into two groups i.e., Group A and Group B, comprising of 20 patients each. Group A and Group B were administered Nistushayadi kwatha and Phalatrikadi Kwatha respectively for 30 days. Both the groups were advised Pathya Ahara. They were followed up after every 10th days. After the intervention the Samanya Lakshana of Amlapitta were observed, recorded and assessed. The overall assessment of both the groups, where group A receives Nistushyadi kwatha and group B Phalatrikadi kwatha shows promising improvement in the subjective parameters. Assessment was done using unpaired ‘t’ test between these two groups, the result was not quite statistically significant which means there is no much difference in the efficacy of these two formulation in the management of Amlapitta. Both the formulations shown nearly same outcome in the improvement of disease parameter. The reduction in the symptoms were started to be noticed by 7th day where the patients had reduction in Hrutkantha Daha, Aruchi, Kanthadaha and Angagourav. These symptoms resolved by 30th day.

Toll-Like Receptor 5-Dependent Regulation of Inflammation in Systemic Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Infection

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica, a gram-negative pathogen, causes a spectrum of human infections including enterocolitis and typhoid fever. We previously showed that Salmonella flagellin played a role in suppressing intestinal mucosal inflammation in a murine model of acute enterocolitis. In this study, we examined the role of flagellin in the typhoid-like systemic murine Salmonella infection by measuring bacterial proliferation, inflammation, leukocyte recruitment, and cellular apoptosis in Peyer's patches (PPs), mesenteric lymph node (MLN), and spleen. We found that relative to an isogenic wild-type (WT) strain, aflagellate Salmonella exhibited increased proliferation at 4 days postinfection in PPs and MLN but not spleen. The aflagellate mutant also elicited increased local and systemic secretion of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β, gamma interferon, and tumor necrosis factor alpha and enhanced surface expression of ICAM-1 on macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs). Furthermore, the recruitment of macrophages and DCs in PPs and MLN, but not spleen, was enhanced upon infection with aflagellate Salmonella. The relative differences between WT and aflagellate Salmonella were highly attenuated in Toll-like receptor 5-deficient (TLR5−/−) mice, indicating involvement of TLR5-dependent signaling. Interestingly, infection with the aflagellate mutant also resulted in decreased levels of T-cell apoptosis in PPs relative to infection with WT Salmonella. We postulate that the initial lack of detection of the aflagellate mutant in the mucosa permits increased proliferation within the host and enhances inflammatory signaling in nonepithelial cell types, which subsequently promotes leukocyte recruitment. In contrast, lack of difference in any disease parameter measured in the spleen likely reflects that Salmonella expression of flagellin is downregulated in this organ. Thus, the characteristic inflammatory pathology of Salmonella infection occurs only in PPs and to a lesser extent in MLN during the initial phases of infection and these early responses are dependent on TLR5.

EPIDEMIC PREDICTABILITY IN META-POPULATION MODELS WITH HETEROGENEOUS COUPLINGS: THE IMPACT OF DISEASE PARAMETER VALUES

We study the predictability of epidemic forecasts in a data-driven meta-population model considering the complete air transportation system and the associated urban areas. We define the predictability as the robustness of the system evolution with respect to the stochastic fluctuations. As a quantitative measure of predictability we consider the information similarity of the time series characterizing different epidemic outbreaks with the same initial conditions. We study the predictability as a function of the parameters describing the basic susceptible-latent-infected and recovered disease dynamics. We find that the overall predictability is determined by the level of sampling of the underlying travel pattern by infected and latent individuals.

Major histocompatibility complex-linked susceptibility or resistance to disease caused by a noncytopathic virus varies with the disease parameter evaluated.

The influence of major transplantation antigens on susceptibility to T cell-mediated disease caused by infection with the noncytopathic virus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) was evaluated in B10 H-2-congenic mice. Susceptibility to early T cell-mediated liver cell destruction (day 7-9) and early mortality (before day 12) was H-2Dq linked and correlated directly with early (day 6-8) and high cytotoxic T cell activity. In contrast, susceptibility to become an LCMV carrier, inability to rapidly clear virus, or tendency to develop late hepatitis (day 14-17) was linked to Dk and correlated with absence of early cytotoxic T cell activity. Thus, H-2D-regulated T cell-immune responses controlling both virus spread and immunopathology may directly determine the type and severity of disease. The results illustrate that susceptibility to disease caused by one virus may be linked to distinct MHC alleles dependent upon the disease parameter studied.