Enzyme activity and population genetic structure analysis in wheat associated with resistance to Bipolaris sorokiniana-common root rot diseases.

Common root rot disease (CRR) caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc.) (Pleosporaceae), is an important fungal disease of wheat, Triticum aestivum (Poaceae), causing considerable yield losses globally. Incorporating genetic resistance in cultivated crops is considered the most efficient and sustainable solution to counter root rot diseases. Moreover, resistance to CCR is quantitative in nature, and thus the mechanism is poorly understood. To this aim, we analyzed the activities of defense-related enzymes; peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), catalase (CAT), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), ß-1,3-glucanase (GLU) and chitinase (CHI), as well as total phenol content (TPC) to CRR on the three known resistant wheat 'Alvand' and 'Bam', 'Mehregan' at different time points (wpi) following CRR pathogen, B. sorokiniana inoculation. Of which, were selected out of 33 wheat cultivars previously screened for resistance to CRR. We also analyzed the genetic variability of the entire germplasm, 33 wheat cultivars using seven simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer pairs. The activity of antioxidant enzymes was increased in the related resistant genotypes. Of which, 'Bam' had the highest increase in PPO, and GLU activities, followed by 'Alvand' in SOD, PAL, and CHI significantly. Whereas, 'Mehregan' showed the highest level of TPC, POX, and CAT activities. In addition, five out of seven used SSR primers produced a total of 20 polymorphic bands, of which the number of alleles in each gene locus varied within 3-7 bands. The polymorphism information content (PIC) value also ranged from 0.44 to 0.81, with the mean of 0.65, Shannon Information Index (I) between 0.29 and 0.63 with an average of 0.47 per locus, and Nei's gene diversity (h) value varied from 0.16 to 0.44 with an average of 0.32. The average number of effective alleles was 1.52, ranging between 1.21 and 1.8. The gene locus Xgwm 140 showed the highest diversity in the population genetic structure, which explains the ability of the primers to resolve the assayed germplasm. Thus, resistance to CRR in wheat was mainly related to the enhancement of antioxidant enzymes, although the specific metabolic pathways require further study. This study presents new insights for understanding resistance mechanisms of the selected wheat cultivars to CRR, thus improving wheat yield in the future.

Bio-genetic analysis of resistance in tomato to early blight disease, Alternaria alternata.

Early blight disease (EB), Alternaria alternata, is destructive on Solanum lycopersicum Mill. The responses of 35 domestic and exotic commercial tomato genotypes to early blight were examined at transplanting and maturing stages using genetic diversity analysis, with 15 Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) primers, total phenolic content (TPC), and enzymatic activity of catalase (CAT), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) assays. The disease severity ranged from 18 to 87.5%. Eleven of 15 ISSR primers generated 68 loci of which 63 (90%) were polymorphic. Polymorphism information content value varied from 0.3 to 0.5 with an average of 0.4. Nei's measure of the average gene diversity ranged from 0.06 to 0.5. The Tomato genotypes were divided into five clusters in Un-weighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) analysis, showing a considerable similarity between resistance level and molecular classification pattern. Antioxidant analysis indicated a significant increase in TPC and CAT, POD, PAL and SOD activities in most inoculated tomato genotypes at both growth stages. The highest increase in activity was seen in PAL (5-fold) and TPC (4-fold) at transplanting stage, whereas the highest TPC (2 to 3-fold) and POD activity (3-fold) were found at maturing stage in all the inoculated resistant genotypes in comparison with controls. Esfahan Local and H. a.s 2274 showed the highest level of activity in POD (2.5- and 3- fold, respectively) and TPC (2.5- and 4-fold, respectively). Our results suggest that using both genetic diversity and enzymatic diversity as markers, it is possible to discriminate resistant from susceptible tomato genotypes to early blight disease.

Does watching a movie improve empathy? A cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: We studied if watching a movie about the patient physician encounter alone or in combination with a communication skills training workshop could improve empathy score of medical students. METHODS: One hundred and thirty three medical students participated in one of the following four groups of the study. Group A: a three hour workshop (42 students); group B: watching the movie "The Doctor" (23 students); group C: watching the movie "The Doctor", then, participating in a three hour workshop the next day (22 students); group D: control group with no intervention (46 students). Participants completed Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE), Student Version to assess empathy score before and after the intervention, and one month later. A linear mixed effect model analyzed the effect of intervention across groups considering the effects of other significant variables. RESULTS: All of the three interventions had an immediate improving effect on empathy scores compared to control group. However, the improvement effect remained significant only in groups A (p=.015) and C (p=.001) one month later. CONCLUSIONS: Watching selected movies has a significant but transient effect on empathy of students. Combining two methods of watching the movie and communication skills workshop, seems to add the beneficial effects.

CONTEXTE: Nous avons étudié si le fait de regarder un film sur une rencontre patient-médecin seule ou en association avec un atelier de formation sur les compétences en communication pouvait améliorer le score d'empathie des étudiants en médecine. MÉTHODES: Cent trente-trois étudiants en médecine ont participé à un des quatre groupes suivants de l'étude. Groupe A : un atelier de trois heures (42 étudiants); groupe B : regarder le film « Le Docteur¼ (23 étudiants); groupe C : regarder le film « Le médecin ¼ et ensuite participer à un atelier de trois heures le jour suivant (22 étudiants); groupe D : groupe témoin sans intervention (46 étudiants). Les participants ont rempli l'échelle d'empathie de Jefferson (JSE), version étudiante, pour évaluer le score d'empathie avant et après l'intervention, ainsi qu'un mois plus tard. Un modèle d'effet mixte linéaire a analysé l'effet de l'intervention parmi les groupes en tenant compte des effets d'autres variables significatives. RÉSULTATS: Les trois interventions ont un effet d'amélioration immédiate sur les scores d'empathie comparativement au groupe témoin. Toutefois, un mois plus tard, l'effet d'amélioration n'était resté significatif que dans les groupes A (p = 0,015) et C (p = 0,001). CONCLUSIONS: Regarder des films sélectionnés a eu un effet significatif, mais transitoire sur l'empathie des étudiants. Combiner les deux méthodes, regarder le film et suivre un atelier sur les compétences en communication, semble ajouter les effets bénéfiques.

Development of mental health law in Iran: work in progress.

A brief account of the three stages of development of a new mental health law in Iran is given. At each stage, the expert opinions of mental health professionals and lawyers interested in the rights of psychiatric patients were obtained. The final draft of the law consists of six sections and 50 articles. It has been submitted for ratification by Parliament.