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In this paper we present the results obtained by depositing the nanocomposite materials based on nano TiO2/TiO2:N, Ag, SiO2, single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNTs), single-walled functionalized carboxylic acid, (SWCNT-COOH), poly(2,2′ bithiophene) (PBTh) and poly(dipheylamine) (PDPA) by conventional and unconventional methods on the surface of sheepskin leathers. The nanocomposite materials were integrated in film forming polymers and were applied on sheepskin leather surfaces by spraying (conventional method) or by activating the surface with cold atmospheric plasma followed by electrospraying (unconventional methods). The leather surfaces were tested for antimicrobial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi according to ISO 20743: 2007. The photocatalytic properties under visible light exposure were also tested using two organic stain models (methylene blue and orange II). The stain discoloring was evaluated by measuring the color differences between the blank and the samples with DATA Color Check Plus II portable device assisted by CIELab color management software. The evaluation of the physical–mechanical resistance and comfort properties for the sheepskin leathers was determined by measuring the water vapor permeability, rubbing tests and abrasion resistance. The results showed that the sheepskin leather surfaces treated with nanocomposite materials have improved antibacterial, self-cleaning, physical–mechanical and comfort properties as compared to untreated samples, with potential applications for added value multifunctional products.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus, is a predominantly respiratory tract infection with the capacity to affect multiple organ systems. Abnormal liver tests, mainly transaminase elevations, have been reported in hospitalized patients. We describe a syndrome of cholangiopathy in patients recovering from severe COVID-19 characterized by marked elevation in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) accompanied by evidence of bile duct injury on imaging. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of COVID-19 patients admitted to our institution from March 1, 2020, to August 15, 2020, on whom the hepatology service was consulted for abnormal liver tests. Bile duct injury was identified by abnormal liver tests with serum ALP > 3x upper limit of normal and abnormal findings on magnetic resonance cholangiopacreatography. Clinical, laboratory, radiological, and histological findings were recorded in a Research Electronic Data Capture database. RESULTS: Twelve patients were identified, 11 men and 1 woman, with a mean age of 58 years. Mean time from COVID-19 diagnosis to diagnosis of cholangiopathy was 118 days. Peak median serum alanine aminotransferase was 661 U/L and peak median serum ALP was 1855 U/L. Marked elevations of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and D-dimers were common. Magnetic resonance cholangiopacreatography findings included beading of intrahepatic ducts (11/12, 92%), bile duct wall thickening with enhancement (7/12, 58%), and peribiliary diffusion high signal (10/12, 83%). Liver biopsy in 4 patients showed acute and/or chronic large duct obstruction without clear bile duct loss. Progressive biliary tract damage has been demonstrated radiographically. Five patients were referred for consideration of liver transplantation after experiencing persistent jaundice, hepatic insufficiency, and/or recurrent bacterial cholangitis. One patient underwent successful living donor liver transplantation. DISCUSSION: Cholangiopathy is a late complication of severe COVID-19 with the potential for progressive biliary injury and liver failure. Further studies are required to understand pathogenesis, natural history, and therapeutic interventions.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus, is a predominantly respiratory tract infection with the capacity to affect multiple organ systems. Abnormal liver tests, mainly transaminase elevations, have been reported in hospitalized patients. We describe a syndrome of cholangiopathy in patients recovering from severe COVID-19 characterized by marked elevation in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) accompanied by evidence of bile duct injury on imaging.We conducted a retrospective study of COVID-19 patients admitted to our institution from March 1, 2020, to August 15, 2020, on whom the hepatology service was consulted for abnormal liver tests. Bile duct injury was identified by abnormal liver tests with serum ALP3x upper limit of normal and abnormal findings on magnetic resonance cholangiopacreatography. Clinical, laboratory, radiological, and histological findings were recorded in a Research Electronic Data Capture database.Twelve patients were identified, 11 men and 1 woman, with a mean age of 58 years. Mean time from COVID-19 diagnosis to diagnosis of cholangiopathy was 118 days. Peak median serum alanine aminotransferase was 661 U/L and peak median serum ALP was 1855 U/L. Marked elevations of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and D-dimers were common. Magnetic resonance cholangiopacreatography findings included beading of intrahepatic ducts (11/12, 92%), bile duct wall thickening with enhancement (7/12, 58%), and peribiliary diffusion high signal (10/12, 83%). Liver biopsy in 4 patients showed acute and/or chronic large duct obstruction without clear bile duct loss. Progressive biliary tract damage has been demonstrated radiographically. Five patients were referred for consideration of liver transplantation after experiencing persistent jaundice, hepatic insufficiency, and/or recurrent bacterial cholangitis. One patient underwent successful living donor liver transplantation.Cholangiopathy is a late complication of severe COVID-19 with the potential for progressive biliary injury and liver failure. Further studies are required to understand pathogenesis, natural history, and therapeutic interventions.

Introduction Laterally Extended Parametrectomy (LEP) was imagined by Ungar and Palfalvi as a more radical surgical procedure for the treatment of lymph node positive stage Ib and stage IIb cervical cancer. Methods The aim of the technique is to remove the entire parametrial tissue containing lymphatic structures from the pelvic side wall. Results LEP superposes to a type D Querleu-Morrow radical hysterectomy, extending the lateral limits of the dissection not only to the medial surface of hypogastric vessels, but to true borders of the pelvic side wall. Its rationale was to avoid the need of aggresive and deleterious postoperative radiotherapy for patients with positive pelvic lymph nodes or parametria in which the final histology suggested a complete removal of the potentially tumor containing lymph-vessel and lymph node containing fibro-fatty tissue. LEP may be also taken into consideration during pelvic exenteration, when the tumor involves the soft structures of the pelvic side wall, for a more extensive pelvic side wall dissection. During LEP, together with the visceral branches of hypogastric vessels, all the parietal branches are also divided (ilio-lumbal, obturator, gluteal superior and inferior and internal pudendal vessels) at the level where the vessels leave or enter into the pelvis. LEP can be performed on one or both pelvic sides, depending on parametrial invasion or presence positive lymph nodes uni- or bilaterally. Conclusion LEP provides a good chance for survival without the toxicity of radiotherapy for pelvic lymph node positive stage Ib or IIb cervical cancer patients.

Introduction/Background The main indications for pelvic exenteration are recurrent or advanced pelvic malignancies. This radical surgical treatment that might be performed for some selected advanced gynaecological or urological cancers, without prior radio- or chemotherapy, is still controversial. Methodology It is a retrospective study including 18 patients submitted to a primary pelvic exenteration between November 2011 and October 2018, with a mean age of 53.5 years. Regarding the pelvic malignancy, in 11 patients (61.1%), it was a stage IVa cervical cancer; a stage IVa vaginal cancer in 4 patients (22.2%); a stage IVa endometrial cancer in one and a bladder cancer stage IIIb in 2 patients. In all patients, the oncological contraindications were ruled out by MRI. Results Out of 18 primary pelvic exenteration, 12 were anterior and 6 were total. Regarding the level of levator ani muscle, 10 exenterations were supralevatorian, 5 infralevatorian and 3 infralevatorian with vulvectomy. The reconstructive phase consisted in a Bricker urinary non-continent ileal or sigmoid conduit. There were no major intraoperative complications. Early complications occurred in 6 patients (33.3%) including a perioperative death (5.5%%) caused by a pulmonary embolism and 3 bowel fistulas (16.6%), in which a re-operation was needed. Only one patient has experienced a late complication - a urostomy stenosis which was solved. Among the 18 patients, at this moment, 12 (66.6%) are alive, 5 are dead because of the disease and one is lost to follow-up. Conclusion Primary pelvic exenterantion in properly selected advanced pelvic cancers can be associated with long-term survival without high perioperative morbidity or mortality. However, postoperative complications can be lethal. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.

Little is known about autoantibody pattern in liver transplantation (LT). The aim of the study was to examine autoantibodies (AAB) and immunoglobulins in patients with end-stage liver disease before and after LT. Patients with LT who underwent post-LT biopsies between 10/2008 and 8/2011 were enrolled. AAB were assessed at the time of LT and liver biopsy. Demographics, serum immunoglobulins, AAB, and liver histology (explant, post-LT biopsies) were analyzed. Two hundred and twenty patients (M/F 143/77; age at LT 54 (19-73)) were included; AAB and immunoglobulins were evaluated in 76 patients. Length of follow-up from LT was 285 (30-1462) days. Sixty-one percent of patients had hepatitis C (HCV); 83% developed recurrent HCV. A significant decrease in IgG, IgA, IgM (p < 0.001 each), anticardiolipin antibodies IgG and IgM (p = 0.02), and beta-2 microglobulin (p = 0.004) was observed post-LT. HCV patients had higher IgG (p = 0.005), rheumatoid factor (p = 0.044) before LT; elevated IgM was associated with increased inflammation in the explant (p = 0.007). Lower IgG levels and antismooth muscle antibodies were present before LT in a higher percentage in patients who would develop recurrent HCV (p = 0.004, p = 0.077, respectively). In conclusion, AAB change significantly after LT and have a different pattern in HCV. Some immunological markers are associated with HCV recurrence and advanced inflammation on explant.

The aims of the present study were to provide deletion maps for wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) chromosomes 5A and 5B and a detailed genetic map of chromosome 5A enriched with popular microsatellite markers, which could be compared with other existing maps and useful for mapping major genes and quantitative traits loci (QTL). Physical mapping of 165 gSSR and EST–SSR markers was conducted by amplifying each primer pair on Chinese Spring, aneuploid lines, and deletion lines for the homoeologous group 5 chromosomes. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population that is recombinant for only chromosome 5A was obtained by crossing the wheat cultivar Chinese Spring and the disomic substitution line Chinese Spring-5A dicoccoides and was used to develop a genetic linkage map of chromosome 5A. A total of 67 markers were found polymorphic between the parental lines and were mapped in the RIL population. Sixty-three loci and the Q gene were clustered in three linkage groups ordered at a minimum LOD score of 5, while four loci remained unlinked. The whole genetic 5A chromosome map covered 420.2 cM, distributed among three linkage groups of 189.3, 35.4, and 195.5 cM. The EST sequences located on chromosomes 5A and 5B were used for comparative analysis against Brachypodium distachyon (L.) P. Beauv. and rice ( Oryza sativa L.) genomes to resolve orthologous relationships among the genomes of wheat and the two model species.

BACKGROUND Thrombocytopenia typically resolves with resolution of portal hypertension after liver transplantation (LT) but persists in some patients. Identifying risk factors associated with persistent post- LT thrombocytopenia may provide important information about its pathogenesis. METHODS Cirrhotic adults with platelet levels of

In gene expression analysis, a key step to obtain informative data from reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT qPCR) assay is normalization, that is usually achieved by ratio to correct the abundance of the gene of interest against that of an endogenous reference gene. The finding of such reference genes, ideally expressed in a stable way in multiple tissue samples and in different experimental conditions, is a non-trivial problem. In this work, a set of genes potentially useful as reference for gene expression studies in water buffalo has been identified and evaluated. In the first step, a publicly available Bos taurus expressed sequence tags database has been downloaded from the TIGR Gene Index and mined by some simple frequency algorithms to find out which tentative consensuses are present in a remarkable number of different cDNA libraries and, consequently, are more suitable to be included in a starter set of candidate reference genes. To validate the potential of such candidates for their use as normalizers in buffalo gene expression analysis, an RT qPCR analysis has been carried out, in which the expression stability of these genes has been evaluated on a panel of buffalo tissues and organs. Our results indicate that ribosomal proteins L4 and L5 and Gek protein encoding genes can be useful as normalizers to compare gene expression levels across tissues and organs in buffalo.

Statin treatment reduces hypercholesterolemia and may be anti-inflammatory. Case reports noted decreased alkaline phosphatase and histological improvement following statin treatment in primary biliary cirrhosis. The objective of this study was to assess the long-term effects of statin treatment in primary biliary cirrhosis. A retrospective analysis compared clinical and biochemical data from 15 hypercholesterolemic individuals with primary biliary cirrhosis who were treated long-term with atorvastatin with an age and gender matched, primary biliary cirrhosis control group. A significant decrease in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (por = 0.002) was observed throughout atorvastatin treatment (median time 2.5 years). LDL-cholesterol levels in the control group were not significantly changed after 2 years (p0.050). No significant changes were noted in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin and Mayo Risk Score in either group (p0.05). Long-term atorvastatin treatment reduced LDL-cholesterol in primary biliary cirrhosis, but there was no evidence of any anti-inflammatory effect.

Sowing date, being determinant for growth stage, may play a decisive role in optimising freezing resistance of winter annual plants. In cereal species, in spite of the abundant literature analysing the factors responsible for the acquisition of frost resistance through the cold hardening process, the involvement of the growth stage per se, has been seldom considered, especially at the earlier vegetative phases. In this work the contribution of growth stage in determining resistance to freezing temperature has been analysed in field and growth chamber experiments using winter and spring barley cultivars exposed to different hardening conditions. Field damage was assessed twice during winter on plants sown at three different dates. In the growth chamber experiments several acclimation treatments at 11/7 and/or 3/1 °C (day/night) were simulated. In both field and laboratory experiments the development of cold acclimation was monitored by means of a COR14b specific antibody, since in previous studies the expression of COR14b was found genetically linked to frost resistance. The lowest resistance, found in the youngest plants and in spring cultivars, however, was not always associated with the lowest level of COR14b accumulation. COR14b accumulation correlated with frost resistance at the earlier field sampling date and in plants grown at 11/7 °C. In a following phase of the hardening process (second sampling in field and 4 weeks at 3/1 °C in growth chamber) the accumulation of COR14b was independent of plant stage and genotype, showing no association with freezing resistance. Results suggest that growth stage is crucial for the achievement of maximal resistance in barley, but not for COR14b expression.

Identifying barley genomic regions influencing the response of yield and its components to water deficits will aid in our understanding of the genetics of drought tolerance and the development of more drought tolerant cultivars. We assembled a population of 192 genotypes that represented landraces, old, and contemporary cultivars sampling key regions around the Mediterranean basin and the rest of Europe. The population was genotyped with a stratified set of 50 genomic and EST derived molecular markers, 49 of which were Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs), which revealed an underlying population sub-structure that corresponded closely to the geographic regions in which the genotypes were grown. A more dense whole genome scan was generated by using Diversity Array Technology (DArT®) to generate 1130 biallelic markers for the population. The population was grown at two contrasting sites in each of seven Mediterranean countries for harvest 2004 and 2005 and grain yield data collected. Mean yield levels ranged from 0.3 to 6.2 t/ha, with highly significant genetic variation in low-yielding environments. Associations of yield with barley genomic regions were then detected by combining the DArT marker data with the yield data in mixed model analyses for the individual trials, followed by multiple regression of yield on markers to identify a multi-locus subset of significant markers/QTLs. QTLs exhibiting a pre-defined consistency across environments were detected in bins 4, 6, 6 and 7 on barley chromosomes 3H, 4H, 5H and 7H respectively.

Background Interferon use for post liver transplantation (LT) recurrent hepatitis C (HCV) has not consistently been associated with acute cellular rejection (ACR). We examined the incidence of chronic ductopenic rejection (CR) in patients receiving pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin (PEG) to treat recurrent HCV. Methods A chart review of 12 patients developing CR while receiving an escalating dose regimen of PEG with protocol liver biopsies every 6 months was conducted. Values are shown as median (range). Results Twelve of the 70 patients treated with PEG developed CR. Median age at LT was 53 (37-63) years; immunosuppression consisted of tacrolimus or cyclosporine with prednisone. PEG was started at 3.6 (0.2-13.5) years after LT. Two patients had one episode of ACR before PEG. Four patients had first ACR while receiving PEG. CR was diagnosed after 12 (4-17) months of PEG; by then 8 patients had undetectable HCV-RNA. Tacrolimus and cyclosporine levels (ng/mL) were 7.9 (3.2-18.9) and 76 (71-93) before PEG, and 6.9 (3.7-9.7) and 130 (81-153) at CR. Six patients were treated more than 1 year with PEG; three had undetectable HCV-RNA when CR was diagnosed. Five patients are being treated for CR; one has been listed for LT; two patients were retransplanted. Five patients died as a result of sepsis partially related to CR. Conclusions Treatment with pegylated-interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin may trigger rapidly progressive CR in patients with therapeutic immunosuppressive trough levels, with or without first inducing ACR.

The naked/hulled kernel trait is controlled in barley by a single gene called nud, on chromosome 7H. The first aim of this work was use bulked segregant analysis to find, new PCR-based markers linked to nud for marker-assisted selection (MAS). A new SCAR marker (sJ14) was developed, which is useful for introgressing the naked trait. This, and three other SCARs, were placed on the 'Proctor' x 'Nudinka' map to detail a 0.9-cM fragment tagging nud. In order to evaluate the haplotypes around the nud locus, a phenotypically differentiated collection of naked/hulled genotypes was characterized by means of the above markers. Eight different marker haplotypes were found in the breeding germplasm, and a new allele for the marker sKT7 was found. The same barley collection has been surveyed for resistance/ susceptibility to leaf stripe (Pyrenophora graminea), in order to investigate any possible association between this and other traits. The naked/hulled seed trait was not associated with resistance/ susceptibility to the fungus.

Objectives An increased ammonia level of gut bacterial origin is an important mediator in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), and constipation is a frequent precipitant of hepatic coma. Because diabetes mellitus (DM) may be associated with delayed gastrointestinal transit, we speculated that its presence in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis would predispose to and exacerbate HE. Methods Sixty-five patients (50 men, 15 women) with HCV-related cirrhosis attending a liver transplantation clinic were assessed for severity of liver disease and presence of DM in a cross-sectional study. A modified Child-Pugh score that excluded HE was calculated. Frequency and severity of HE (absent, mild, and severe) in diabetic and nondiabetic patients were assessed. Clinical severity of cirrhosis and results of neuropsychometric testing in diabetic and nondiabetic patients with mild and severe HE were compared. Results Fifty-four patients (83%) had HE (33 mild, 21 severe). Twenty patients (31%) had DM. HE was present in 19 (95%) patients with diabetes and 35 (78%) patients without diabetes (p = 0.087). Severity of HE was greater in diabetic (35% mild, 60% severe) than in nondiabetic patients (58% mild, 20% severe) (p = 0.007). In both the mild and severe HE categories, severity of liver disease in diabetic patients was otherwise milder than in the nondiabetic patients. Conclusions Diabetic patients with HCV cirrhosis have more severe HE. Diabetic patients have severe HE at earlier stages of biochemical decompensation and portal hypertension compared with nondiabetic patients.

OBJECTIVES: Fatigue, which may have a significant impact on quality of life, is the most common reported symptom in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Multiple instruments to quantify fatigue and quality of life in liver disease have been validated, but have not been broadly applied to U.S. PBC patients. This study examines the extent of fatigue and its effect on quality of life in U.S. PBC patients. METHODS: Seventy patients with PBC were administered two validated questionnaires about quality of life (the Mayo version of the NIDDK-QA) and fatigue (the Fisk Fatigue Impact Score) and a proposed physical measure of fatigue in PBC (the grip strength test) on the day of routine physician visit. Nonparametric methods were employed. RESULTS: The fatigue and quality of life domain scores (physical functioning, liver symptoms, health satisfaction, Karnofsky index) discriminated between patients with and without self-reported fatigue (p < 0.05), as opposed to the grip strength results. Fatigue and quality of life domains correlated strongly with each other (r between 0.33 and 0.74, p

Extensive molecular biological studies have led to the cloning of many cold-regulated genes (cor) whose expression is up-regulated in winter cereals during exposure to cold. Among them is cor14b, a nuclear gene coding for a chloroplast-localized protein whose expression level has been associated with frost resistance in Triticeae. Although frost tolerance is recognised as a complex quantitative character, members of homologous group 5 in Triticeae are known to carry major loci determining frost tolerance. In this work we summarize a number of recent experiments where the cold-regulated gene cor14b was used as a tool (i) to understand the genetic relationship between the expression of cor genes and the frost resistance loci and (ii) to identify barley mutants revealing a chloroplast role in the signal transduction pathway leading to the molecular cold response.Key words: Triticeae, cold hardening, frost resistance, cor genes.

Genomics adds a new dimension to genetic analysis, shifting the focus from the study of a single gene to the whole genome. We have successfully applied the genomics approach based on microarray to the study of genes involved in barley responses to cold stress. About 900 EST clones from barley were obtained from a cDNA library of cold acclimatized leaves of cv. Nure and arrayed, and gene expression analysis done on cold acclimatized vs. control plants. The system allowed for reliable detection of differences in mRNA expression levels, and was confirmed by the finding that numerous previously reported cold-related genes were differentially expressed in treated and untreated plants when evaluated in our arrays. The expression profiles of a sample of genes analysed by the array were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. Previously, identification of novel plant genes was achieved considering a few genes at a time; now many genes can be found as up- or down-regulated based on a one step procedure. Many of the genes we found to be up- or down-regulated do not have an assigned function. This includes 15 of the 78 up-regulated and 8 of the 45 down-regulated clones. Our results add new genes to the group of cold-regulated genes and provide the opportunity to better understand the complex mechanism of stress tolerance.

Multi-environment trials represent a highly valuable tool for the identification of the genetic bases of crop yield potential and stress adaptation. A Diversity Array Technology®-based barley map has been developed in the ‘Nure’ × ‘Tremois’ biparental Doubled Haploid population, harbouring the genomic position of a gene set with a putative role in the regulation of flowering time and abiotic stress response in barley. The population has been evaluated in eighteen location-by-year combinations across the Mediterranean basin. QTL mapping identified several genomic regions responsible for barley adaptation to Mediterranean conditions in terms of phenology, grain yield and yield component traits. The most frequently detected yield QTL had the early flowering HvCEN_EPS2 locus (chromosome 2H) as peak marker, showing a positive effect from the early winter parent ‘Nure’ in eight field trials, and explaining up to 45.8 % of the observed variance for grain yield. The HvBM5A_VRN-H1 locus on chromosome 5H and the genomic region possibly corresponding to PPD-H2 on chromosome 1H were significantly associated to grain yield in five and three locations, respectively. Environment-specific QTLs for grain yield, and clusters of yield component QTLs not related to phenology and or developmental genes (e.g. on chromosome 4H, BIN_09) were observed as well. The results of this work provide a valuable source of knowledge and tools for both explaining the genetic bases of barley yield adaptation across the Mediterranean basin, and using QTL-associated markers for MAS pre-breeding and breeding programmes.

Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) databases are being created for several plant species. ESTs have the potential to analyse the expressed part of the genome, and to be used in a wide range of applications from the theoretical aspect of plant biology to the breeding process. The present study is based on a cold-stressed cDNA library as a source of ESTs in barley: partial cDNA sequencing of randomly isolated clones yielded 960 ESTs. The strategy of random sequencing cDNA clones at their 5¢ ends allows one to obtain information on the steady-state level of the transcripts in a cold-stressed green leaf of barley. Repetitive sequencing of nearly identical ESTs provides, in addition, useful information on the existence of multigene families. The results of a BLAST search performed on this set of ESTs showed that 18.5% of the tags exhibited no significant homology to known genes, 10% had significant levels of homology with known cold or other stress-related genes, about 26% proved homologous to enzymes involved in several metabolic pathways and about 15% encoded for ribosomal proteins, cytoskeleton proteins, histones, ubiquitin, elongation factors and others. Redundancy was found for some classes of tag: RuBisCo, cab proteins, carbonic anhydrase, glutamate decarboxylase and stress related proteins.

The efficiency of the excitation capture by open Photosystem II (PSII) reaction centres was measured by the F v /F m ratios in a collection of winter and spring oats in order to assess the effects of hardening and freezing on the functionality of PSII and also the suitability of a chlorophyll fluorescence-based method to screen oat cultivars for frost tolerance A significant reversible decrease in F v /F m was found in all genotypes during acclimation to low, non-freezing temperatures. F v /F m analysis appears to be an attractive test for the evaluation of frost tolerance in oats, being rapid, non-invasive and capable of monitoring a trait related to a crucial stage in the acquisition of frost tolerance. It is more sensitive and precise than other standard methods and highly correlated with field-evaluated frost damage. The measurements made during recovery 1 or 2 days after stress when the visual symptoms are not yet expressed, were especially advantageous because of the large variability in genotype response. The r-values (close to 0.8) were reduced due to the non-standard behaviour of the winter cultivar Aintree', The cold acclimation response of this genotype has been analysed in detail and the limits of artificial freezing tests are discussed.

Pyrenophora graminea is the seed-borne pathogen causal agent of barley leaf stripe disease. Near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying resistance of the cv ”Thibaut” against the highly virulent isolate Dg2 were obtained by introgressing the resistance into the genetic background of the susceptible cv ”Mirco”. The segregation of the resistance gene was followed in a F2 population of 128 plants as well as on the F3 lines derived from the F2 plants; the segregation fitted the 1:2:1 ratio for a single gene. By using NILs, a RAPD marker associated with the resistance gene was identified; sequence-specific (STS) primers were designed on the basis of the amplicon sequence and a RILs mapping population with an AFLP-based map were used to position this molecular marker to barley chromosome 1 S (7HS). STS and CAPS markers were developed from RFLPs mapped to the telomeric region of barley chromosome 7HS and three polymorphic PCR-based markers were developed. The segregation of these markers was followed in the F2 population and their map position with respect to the resistance gene was determined. Our results indicate that the Thibaut resistance gene, which we designated as Rdg2a, maps to the telomeric region of barley chromosome 7HS and is flanked by the markers OPQ-9700 and MWG 2018 at distances of 3.1 and 2.5 cM respectively. The suitability of the PCR-based marker MWG2018 in selection- assisted barley breeding programs is discussed.

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has shown efficacy in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), a chronic, slowly progressive disease. We hypothesized that UDCA use would reduce the need for liver transplantation in PBC. Our study's aim was to assess liver transplantation requirements in PBC over a 12-year period. For comparison, we studied patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) because it shares similar characteristics to PBC, but with a decreased response to UDCA.PBC and PSC transplant data of first-time liver recipients from the United Network for Organ Sharing database were collected from 1995 to 2006.The absolute number of liver transplantations in the United States increased an average of 249 transplants per year (P.001). The absolute number of transplants performed for PBC decreased an average of 5.4 cases per year (P = .004). The absolute number of transplantations for PSC showed no statistical change (P = .621). The trends for the absolute number of individuals added to the transplant waitlist showed a similar pattern: (1) an increase in total listings for transplants of all diagnoses (beta = 265; P = .001); (2) a decrease in PBC (beta = -12.1; P.001); (3) and no change for PSC (beta = -5.434; P = .083).The liver transplantation burden of PBC in the United States decreased between 1995 and 2006. This is despite an increase in total liver transplants and no change in transplant rates for PSC.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) may precipitate deterioration of circulatory function with severe hepatic insufficiency, hepatic encephalopathy, and type-1 hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) and has 30% hospital mortality despite infection resolution.1 Predictors of this acute-on-chronic liver failure include ascitic fluid concentrations of granulocytes and cytokines and renal and hepatic insufficiency at diagnosis.1–3 Endotoxemia and the inflammatory response precipitate renal failure (RF) by accentuating splanchnic vasodilatation and impairing cardiac function.3–5 Compensatory activation of the renin-angiotensin and sympathetic nervous systems further decrease renal perfusion. Volume expansion with albumin (1.5 g/kg day one, 1 g/kg day three) significantly reduces the incidence of HRS and hospital mortality.2 In the sole reported trial, only patients with serum bilirubin (bili) >68.4 μmol/l, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) >30 mg/dl or serum creatinine (Cr) >88.4 μmol/l appeared …

A supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), method has been applied to extract the natural vitamin E components, tocopherols and tocotrienols, from fruits of Hordeum vulgare L. The fractions were monitored by analytical high performance liquid chromatography using fluorimetric and electrochemical detectors. High yields, and clear and purified extracts were obtained by SFE; compared with the n-hexane extract, the SFE extract was lighter in colour and more concentrated in vitamin E components. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cold acclimation in plants involves the expression of many genes and gene families. The present study reports the expression analysis of three members of the blt14 gene family in barley. Gene-specific antisense oligonucleotides were used as probes in northern experiments so as to follow independently the expression of individual members of the gene family. Each clone revealed different accumulation kinetics when a spring and a winter cultivar were compared, suggesting that the different regulatory mechanisms leading to mRNA accumulation of an individual member of the blt14 gene family are genotype-dependent. In a collection of Hordeum spontaneumgenotypes both qualitative and quantitative polymorphisms were found for the accumulation of blt14-related mRNAs, although no clear relationships were found between blt14 expression and frost resistance. The accumulation of the blt14-related mRNAs was also modulated by light and by the albino mutation an .T he effects of light on the accumulation of the transcripts corresponding to the blt14 gene family were evaluated by comparing etiolated and green plants. Etiolated plants accumulate the blt14-related mRNAs at a detectable level already at 22C. When the same plants are exposed to cold in absence of light an increased mRNA accumulation above the level present in green cold-treated plants can be detected. On the contrary, etiolated plants showed a reduced blt14 accumulation when exposed to cold in the presence of light. Cold-induced expression of the blt14 gene family was strongly reduced in plants carrying the albino mutation an. This mutant showed a defective molecular response to cold even when probed with a cDNA coding for LEA type protein (paf93). The albino mutant an was not able to harden when exposed to low temperature providing a direct evidence of the relationship between expression of cold-regulated (COR) genes and the development of cold hardening. Failure of cold acclimation in the mutant cannot be merely ascribed to the absence of photosynthetic activity, since etiolated wild-type plants accumulated COR mRNAs and improved frost resistance when exposed to cold.

Liver pathology occurring in patients with sickle cell disease is commonly related to viral hepatitis or hepatic iron deposition due to repeated transfusions; cholestasis and cirrhosis may also occur. Consequently, the differential diagnosis of abnormal liver tests in patients with sickle cell anemia is often complicated. We report the case of a patient presenting with jaundice and abnormal liver biochemistries, without typical evidence of the liver diseases associated with sickle cell anemia. Biochemical markers for viral hepatitis were negative. CT scan only showed hepatomegaly. The liver biopsy revealed marked sinusoidal congestion with red blood cells without significant steatosis or increased iron deposition. The patient's medical history corroborated with biochemical tests and histological examination of the liver suggested that worsening hemolysis related to increased sickling of erythrocytes intrahepatically led to sinusoidal dilatation and probably caused the abnormal liver tests.

A breeding programme was developed to obtain barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV)-resistant winter genotypes using the Yd2 gene. The aim was to incorporate the Yd2 allele into the new high-yielding genotypes to release cultivars that allow barley cultivation in areas where BYDV is endemic. The resistant lines were developed using pedigree selection. An ICARDA resistant line (83RCBB130) carrying the Yd2 gene was crossed with three susceptible, high-yielding winter varieties and their F 1 lines were either selfed or backcrossed to the matching susceptible parent. The best lines selected from subsequent selfing generations were evaluated in replicated trials in the presence or absence of BYDV, starting from F 6 and BC 1 F 5 to F 8 and BC 1 F 7 generations. Four genotypes with superior agronomic traits and BYDV resistance were selected.

Structurally different areas may occur in the endosperm of the barley grain, and they can be visually classified as either mealy or steely. Barleys with a high proportion of grains that are mostly steely often show uneven physical-chemical modification of the endosperm during malting. To study the relationship between steeliness and endosperm modification, two samples of barley cv. Scarlett with contrasting malting quality were analysed.The proportions of steely grains were 77% and 46% in the two samples, which were then defined as steely sample and mealy sample, respectively. The steely sample showed slower modification during malting (in terms of beta-glucan degradation, friability increase, and Calcofluor staining), lower hot water extract (HWE) and acrospire growth, and higher extract viscosity. Endosperm permeation to large molecules (tested with the fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran conjugate, FITC-D) closely followed cell wall modification in the steely sample, but this was not so in the mealy sample.Higher steeliness was associated with higher levels of C hordeins in the grain of barley cv. Scarlett. It is proposed that such hordeins can increase the permeability to large molecules (FITC-D) but slow modification. Like steeliness and the level of C hordeins, permeability to FITC-D appears to be more linked to environmental rather than genetic effects. Although a more general association of C hordeins with steeliness of malting barley still has to be ascertained, the negative role of C hordeins in malting quality has been confirmed.