UPTAKE OF MICROELEMENTSINOILSEED RAPE PLANTS UNDER MINERAL FERTILIZATION WITH NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS

With a large and growing demand in the market, rapeseed (Brassica napus subsp. napus.) is a crop with relatively high requirements for macronutrient fertilization. The aim of the experiment was to study the effect of mineral fertilization with different doses of nitrogen and phosphorus on the accumulation of microelements in the vegetative organs and grains of oilseed rape plants.The experiment was carried out in the long-term experimental fields of SCDA Livada. There were taken and analyzed 96 plant samples and the results were statistically processed. Fertilization with nitrogen and phosphorus led to statistically assured changes in the contents of microelements, mostly in the aerial parts of the rapeseed. Regarding their accumulation in the grain, there were obtained variations of contents that were not significant to all doses of fertilizer applied. The conclusions of the experiments showed that the evaluation of contents of manganese, iron, zinc, and copper in rapeseed plants can help in choosing the optimal dose of mineral fertilizers in order to assure balanced microelement composition in plants and thus, consequently to avoid their deficiency

ASSESSMENT OF POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS LOAD LEVEL IN SOILS COLLECTED FROM RESIDENTIAL AREAS

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are listed as a class of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention. PCBs represent a threat to human health and environment because of their toxicity, persistence, and tendency to bio-accumulate at the top of the food chain. Additionally, some PCBs are suspected carcinogens. Because of their chemical stability and their excellent electrical insulation and thermal conductive properties, PCBs have been used in widespread industrial, commercial and domestic applications. The aim of this study is to establish the load level of these compounds in soils from residential areas. The soil samples were collected from gardens, parks and households located in Bucharest. The interest compounds (PCB with IUPAC number 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180) were extracted from soil with organic solvents (hexane: acetone = 1:1) and analysed by gas chromatography with electron capture detector. The analytical results show that the most abundant compounds were those with a high degree of chlorination. The total content of PCBs ranged between 0.0004 mg/kg and 0.028 mg/kg, so values of concentration that are not exceed the alert threshold (0.25 mg/kg)

Polychlorinated biphenyls in Bucharest urban soils

Polychlorinated biphenyls are a family of 209 congeners that were manufactured and sold as complex mixtures differing in their chlorination level. They have excellent dielectric properties, chemical and thermal stability, so they were used extensively in industry. PCBs are very persistent, very toxic, and the high octanol/water partition coefficient results in their accumulation in fatty tissues and their biomagnification in the food chain. These are the reasons of including polychlorinated biphenyls on the Persistent Organic Pollutants list adopted in Stockholm in 2001. This paper presents the PCBs (28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180) load level of Bucharest soils. The samples were collected from representative areas such as parks, streets, intersections, markets. The interest compounds were extracted from soil with organic solvents and analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detector. The analythical results show that the most abundant compounds were those with a high degree of chlorination. Thus, for PCB 180, 90% from analyzed samples have concentrations ranged between normal values (< 0.0004 mg/kg) and alert threshold (0.01 mg/kg), 7% between alert and intervention threshold (0.04 mg/kg), while only 3% exceed the intervention threshold. For PCB 153, again, 90% of the values are within the interval normal range – alert threshold and 10% correspond to the interval alert threshold – intervention threshold. For PCB 138, 23% from soil samples have normal concentration, 70% exceed the normal values but are lower than alert threshold, while 7% exceed the alert threshold. The highest concentration value, 0.0542 mg/kg, was recorded for PCB 180 in a sample collected close by a very busy boulevard

Anti-Ro52 antibodies positivity in antisynthetase syndrome: a single centre cohort study

Objectives: Although antisynthetase antibodies (ARS) are the established markers of the so-called antisynthetase syndrome (ASSD), in these patients the concomitant positivity of anti-Ro52 antibodies, reported in up to the 50% of cases, is not rare. Several studies focused on the effect of different ARS specificities on the evolution of ASSD, the most recent showing no effects. On the contrary, the role of co-occurring anti-Ro52 antibodies in ASSD is still debated. We investigated the potential of anti-Ro52 antibodies in identifying a clinical phenotype of ASSD or influencing prognosis, irrespectively to the underlying ARS specificity. Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical, imaging and laboratory characteristics, therapeutic approaches and outcome at baseline and at last follow-up, of 60 ASSD patients progressively enrolled at our Hospital. Results: We identified 34 anti-Ro+ and 26 anti-Ro- ASSD patients. Classic triad prevalence at baseline was similar between the two groups, whereas interstitial lung disease (ILD) (p value=0.01) and myositis (p value=0.03) were significantly more prevalent in anti-Ro52+ and in anti-Ro52- patients at last follow up, respectively. No differences in therapeutic approaches, oxygen need and ILD patterns were observed. Overall mortality was 25% (15 subjects). No differences in mortality, overall and disease related, between anti-Ro52+ and anti-Ro52- patients were observed (p value=0.764), despite the more frequent ILD occurrence in anti-Ro52+ patients. Survival curves were not different at any time point (Log-rank test, p value 0.98). Conclusions: Anti-Ro52 antibodies affect time course and clinical characteristics of ASSD. Although ILD is significantly more associated to anti-Ro52 antibodies, no difference in mortality was observed compared to anti-Ro52 negative patients

COVID-19 impact on post-traumatic stress symptoms in burning mouth syndrome: A multicentric study

Objectives: This study investigates the psychological impact of COVID-19 on burning mouth syndrome (BMS) patients. It focuses on comparing post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), post-traumatic growth (PTG), and resilience between BMS patients and Controls. Methods: A total of 100 BMS patients and 100 Controls from five Italian centers participated in this observational cross-sectional study. They completed several assessments, including the General Health Questionnaire, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, National Stressful Events Survey Short Scale, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Post Traumatic Growth Inventory Short Form, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Results: BMS patients had significantly higher stress, anxiety, and depression (DASS-21 score) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (IES-R-6 score), particularly in terms of intrusive thoughts. They showed lower post-traumatic growth (PTGI-SF score) compared to Controls. The resilience scale (CDRS-10) was a key predictor of PTG in both groups, explaining a significant variance in PTGI-SF scores. Conclusions: BMS patients experienced heightened post-traumatic stress, stress, anxiety, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, with reduced post-traumatic growth. This highlights the need to prioritize their psychological well-being, focusing on stress management and fostering post-traumatic growth in challenging times

Vaginal microbiota, genital inflammation and extracellular matrix remodelling collagenase: MMP-9 in pregnant women with HIV, a potential preterm birth mechanism warranting further exploration

Background: Pregnant women living with HIV infection (PWLWH) have elevated rates of preterm birth (PTB) in which HIV and cART are implicated. PWLWH also have a high prevalence of adverse vaginal microbiota, which associate with genital tract inflammation. The mechanism underlying PTB in PWLWH is unknown. We present the first data in PWLWH on genital-tract matrix-metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9), an important collagenase implicated in labour onset, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1(TIMP-1) and explore correlations with local inflammation and vaginal bacteria

Comparative analysis of vaginal microbiota sampling using menstrual cups and high vaginal swabs in pregnant women living with HIV-1 infection

Background: Menstrual cups (MCs) are increasingly used to collect cervicovaginal secretions to characterise vaginal mucosal immunology, in conjunction with high vaginal swabs (HVS) for metataxonomics, particularly in HIV transmission studies. We hypothesised that both methods of collecting bacterial biomass are equivalent for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Material and Methods: Cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) samples from 16 pregnant women with HIV-1 (PWWH) were included to represent the major vaginal bacterial community state types (CST I-V). Women underwent sampling during the second trimester by liquid amies HVS followed by a MC (Soft disc™) and samples were stored at -80°C. Bacterial cell pellets obtained from swab elution and MC (500 µL, 1 in 10 dilution) were resuspended in 120 µL PBS for DNA extraction. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed using V1-V2 primers and were analysed using MOTHUR. Paired total DNA, bacterial load, amplicon read counts, diversity matrices and bacterial taxa were compared by sampling method using MicrobiomeAnalyst, SPSS and R. Results: The total DNA eluted from one aliquot of diluted CVF from an MC was similar to that of a HVS (993ng and 609ng, p=0.18); the mean bacterial loads were also comparable for both methods (MC: 8.0 log10 16S rRNA gene copies versus HVS: 7.9 log10 16S rRNA gene copies, p=0.27). The mean number of sequence reads generated from MC samples was lower than from HVS (MC: 12730; HVS:14830, p=0.05). The α-diversity metrices were similar for both techniques; MC Species Observed: 41 (range 12-96) versus HVS: 47 (range 16-96), p=0.15; MC Inverse Simpson Index: 1.98 (range 1.0-4.0) versus HVS: 0.48 (range 1.0-4.4), p=0.22). The three most abundant species observed were: Lactobacillus iners, Lactobacillus crispatus and Gardnerella vaginalis. Hierarchical clustering of relative abundance data showed that samples obtained using different techniques in an individual clustered in the same CST group. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that despite sampling slightly different areas of the lower genital tract, there was no difference in bacterial load or composition between methods. Both are suitable for characterisation of vaginal microbiota in PWWH. The MC offers advantages, including a higher volume of sample available for DNA extraction and complimentary assays

Genetic variants for head size share genes and pathways with cancer

The size of the human head is highly heritable, but genetic drivers of its variation within the general population remain unmapped. We perform a genome-wide association study on head size (N = 80,890) and identify 67 genetic loci, of which 50 are novel. Neuroimaging studies show that 17 variants affect specific brain areas, but most have widespread effects. Gene set enrichment is observed for various cancers and the p53, Wnt, and ErbB signaling pathways. Genes harboring lead variants are enriched for macrocephaly syndrome genes (37-fold) and high-fidelity cancer genes (9-fold), which is not seen for human height variants. Head size variants are also near genes preferentially expressed in intermediate progenitor cells, neural cells linked to evolutionary brain expansion. Our results indicate that genes regulating early brain and cranial growth incline to neoplasia later in life, irrespective of height. This warrants investigation of clinical implications of the link between head size and cancer

Genetic variants for head size share genes and pathways with cancer

The size of the human head is highly heritable, but genetic drivers of its variation within the general population remain unmapped. We perform a genome-wide association study on head size (N = 80,890) and identify 67 genetic loci, of which 50 are novel. Neuroimaging studies show that 17 variants affect specific brain areas, but most have widespread effects. Gene set enrichment is observed for various cancers and the p53, Wnt, and ErbB signaling pathways. Genes harboring lead variants are enriched for macrocephaly syndrome genes (37-fold) and high-fidelity cancer genes (9-fold), which is not seen for human height variants. Head size variants are also near genes preferentially expressed in intermediate progenitor cells, neural cells linked to evolutionary brain expansion. Our results indicate that genes regulating early brain and cranial growth incline to neoplasia later in life, irrespective of height. This warrants investigation of clinical implications of the link between head size and cancer