Academic literature on the topic '950/.07/2'

Background: Isolated impaired fasting glucose (i-IFG) constitutes a major group in the prediabetic spectrum among Indians, and thus it is imperative to identify effective diabetes prevention strategies. This study aims to evaluate the effects of an intensive community-based lifestyle modification program on regression to normoglycemia among women with i-IFG, compared to a control group at 24 months. The study also aims to evaluate the implementation of the intervention, via both process and implementation outcomes. Methods: We will use a hybrid design (Effectiveness-implementation hybrid type 2 trial) to test the effectiveness and implementation of the lifestyle modification intervention. Effectiveness is evaluated using a randomized controlled trial among 950 overweight or obese women, aged 30 to 60 years, with i-IFG on an oral glucose tolerance test in the Indian state of Kerala. The intervention involves an intensive lifestyle modification program through group and individually mentored sessions using behavioural determinants and behavioural change techniques. The intervention group will receive the intervention for a period of 12 months and the control group will receive general health advice through a health education booklet. Data on behavioural, clinical, and biochemical measures will be collected using standard methods at 12 and 24 months. The primary outcome will be regression to normoglycemia at 24 months, as defined by the American Diabetes Association criteria. Discussion: This study will provide the first evidence on the effects of lifestyle interventions on regression to normoglycemia in people with i-IFG among Indians. CTRI registration: CTRI/2021/07/035289 (30/07/2021)

Cellular polarity is a fundamental property of every cell. Due to their extremely fast growth rate (≥1 μm/s) and their highly elongated form, filamentous fungi represent a prime example of polarized growth and are an attractive model for the analysis of fundamental mechanisms underlying cellular polarity. To identify the critical components that contribute to polarized growth, we developed a large-scale genetic screen for the isolation of conditional mutants defective in this process in the model fungus Neurospora crassa. Phenotypic analysis and complementation tests of ca. 950 mutants identified more than 100 complementation groups that define 21 distinct morphological classes. The phenotypes include polarity defects over the whole hypha, more specific defects localized to hyphal tips or subapical regions, and defects in branch formation and growth directionality. To begin converting this mutant collection into meaningful biological information, we identified the defective genes in 45 mutants covering all phenotypic classes. These genes encode novel proteins as well as proteins which 1) regulate the actin or microtubule cytoskeleton, 2) are kinases or components of signal transduction pathways, 3) are part of the secretory pathway, or 4) have functions in cell wall formation or membrane biosynthesis. These findings highlight the dynamic nature of a fungal hypha and establish a molecular model for studies of hyphal growth and polarity.

Abstract The transbilayer movement of phosphatidylserine from the inner to the outer leaflet of the membrane bilayer during platelet activation is associated with the release of procoagulant phosphatidylserine-rich small membrane vesicles called platelet-derived microvesicles. We tested the effect of lactadherin, which promotes the phagocytosis of phosphatidylserine-expressing lymphocytes and red blood cells, in the clearance of platelet microvesicles. Platelet-derived microvesicles were labeled with BODIPY-maleimide and incubated with THP-1–derived macrophages. The extent of phagocytosis was quantified by flow cytometry. Lactadherin promoted phagocytosis in a concentration-dependent manner with a half-maximal effect at approximately 5 ng/mL. Lactadherin-deficient mice had increased number of platelet-derived microvesicles in their plasma compared with their wild-type littermates (950 ± 165 vs 4760 ± 650; P = .02) and generated 2-fold more thrombin. In addition, splenic macrophages from lactadherin-deficient mice showed decreased capacity to phagocytose platelet-derived microvesicles. In an in vivo model of light/dye-induced endothelial injury/thrombosis in the cremasteric venules, lactadherin-deficient mice had significantly shorter time for occlusion compared with their wild-type littermate controls (5.93 ± 0.43 minutes vs 9.80 ± 1.14 minutes;P = .01). These studies show that lactadherin mediates the clearance of phosphatidylserine-expressing platelet-derived microvesicles from the circulation and that a defective clearance can induce a hypercoagulable state.

Since 2010, a new foliar and fruit disease was observed in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) orchards in Alicante Province (eastern Spain). Symptoms included black spots on leaves and fruits, as well as chlorosis and premature abscission of leaves. Fungal isolates were obtained by surface-disinfecting small fragments of symptomatic leaf and fruit tissues in 0.5% NaOCl, double-rinsing in sterile water, and plating them onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with 0.5 g/liter of streptomycin sulfate. Gray-to-black colonies were obtained, which were identified as Alternaria sp. based on the dark, brown, obclavate to obpyriform catenulate conidia with longitudinal and transverse septa tapering to a prominent beak attached in chains on a simple and short conidiophore (4). Conidia (n = 100) measured (12.2-) 20.2 (-27.6) × (5.7-) 9.2 (-12.0) μm, and had 3 to 6 transverse and 0 to 5 longitudinal septa. Single spore cultures were obtained and their genomic DNA was extracted. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA and partial sequences of the beta tubulin gene were amplified and sequenced with primers ITS1-ITS4 and Bt1a-Bt1b, respectively (3). BLAST analysis of the sequences showed that they were 100% identical to a pathogenic A. alternata (Fr.) Keissl. isolate obtained from black spot disease of pomegranate in Israel (Accession No. JN247826.1, ITS and Accession No. JN247836.1, beta tubulin) (2). As all the sequences obtained showed 100% homology, ITS and beta tubulin sequences of a representative isolate (1516B) were submitted to GenBank (KF199871 and KF199872, respectively). In addition, a PCR reaction with specific primers (C_for/C_rev) designed to recognize highly virulent isolates of A. alternata causing black spot of pomegranate was used with all isolates (2). A characteristic fragment of ~950 bp was amplified in two isolates: 1552B and 1707B. Pathogenicity was assessed on plants and detached fruit of pomegranate cv. Mollar (1). Two-year-old pomegranate trees were inoculated with isolates 1552B and 1707B by spraying a conidial suspension (106 conidia/ml) onto the upper and lower leaf surfaces. Five plants per fungal isolate were used and five control plants were sprayed with sterile water. Plants were covered with transparent plastic bags and incubated in a growth chamber for 1 month at 25°C, with a 12-h photoperiod. One-month-old fruits were surface sterilized in 1.5% sodium hypochlorite solution for 1 min and rinsed twice in water. Two filter paper squares (5 × 5 mm) were dipped in the conidial suspensions and placed on the fruit surface. Inoculated fruit were incubated in a humid chamber in the dark at 25°C. Ten fruit per fungal isolate were used and 10 control fruit were inoculated with sterile water. Black spots were visible on inoculated leaves and fruit, 10 and 3 days after inoculation, respectively. Symptoms were not observed on controls. The fungus was re-isolated from leaf and fruit lesions, confirming Koch's postulates. Leaf black spot of pomegranate caused by A. alternata was first described in India in 1988, and later in Israel in 2010 affecting both fruit and leaves (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the disease in Spain, where it could represent a threat for pomegranate cultivation due to the increasing amount of area dedicated to this crop. References: (1) D. Ezra et al. Australas. Plant Dis. Notes 5:1, 2010. (2) T. Gat et al. Plant Dis. 96:1513, 2012. (3) N. L. Glass and G. C. Donaldson. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 61:1323, 1995. (4) E. G. Simmons. Alternaria: An identification manual. CBS Fungal Biodiversity Center, Utrecht, Netherlands, 2007.

El obispo Victorio Manuel Bonamín ocupó el cargo de pro-vicario castrense durante más de dos décadas en la convulsionada Argentina de las décadas de 1960 y 1970. El deseo no cumplido del obispo, que hacia el final de su vida esperaba quemar la totalidad de sus papeles, y las razones aún no reveladas suficientemente de la supervivencia de algunos de los diarios en que cotidianamente registraba el entramado de relaciones en los pliegues de dos instituciones como la Iglesia Católica y las FF.AA., encontró en la obra recientemente publicada por el historiador Lucas Bilbao y el sociólogo Ariel Lede un cauce que permite aproximarnos a un peculiar registro de “experiencias, sensaciones y conversaciones” a partir de las cuales se vislumbran las vinculaciones entre la Iglesia Católica y las FF.AA. durante la última dictadura.