ß-Aminobutyric Acid Pretreatment Confers Salt Stress Tolerance in Brassica napus L. by Modulating Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolism and Methylglyoxal Detoxification.

Salinity is a serious environmental hazard which limits world agricultural production by adversely affecting plant physiology and biochemistry. Hence, increased tolerance against salt stress is very important. In this study, we explored the function of ß-aminobutyric acid (BABA) in enhancing salt stress tolerance in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). After pretreatment with BABA, seedlings were exposed to NaCl (100 and 150 mM) for 2 days. Salt stress increased Na content and decreased K content in shoot and root. It disrupted the antioxidant defense system by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS; H2O2 and O2•-), methylglyoxal (MG) content and causing oxidative stress. It also reduced the growth and photosynthetic pigments of seedlings but increased proline (Pro) content. However, BABA pretreatment in salt-stressed seedlings increased ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) contents; GSH/GSSG ratio; and the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glyoxalase I (Gly I), and glyoxalase II (Gly II) as well as the growth and photosynthetic pigments of plants. In addition, compared to salt stress alone, BABA increased Pro content, reduced the H2O2, MDA and MG contents, and decreased Na content in root and increased K content in shoot and root of rapeseed seedlings. Our findings suggest that BABA plays a double role in rapeseed seedlings by reducing Na uptake and enhancing stress tolerance through upregulating the antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems.

Reliability of mandibular canine and mandibular canine index in sex determination: A study using Uyghur population.

Sex determination is a key process that is required to establish the forensic profile of an individual. Mandibular canine index (MCI) method yields fairly positive results for sex determination. However, this method has been challenged by a few authors. This study aimed to examine the reliability of MCI in Chinese Uyghur population and to establish its normal value for this ethnic group. Dental casts of 216 students (117 males and 119 females) from the College of Stomatology of Xinjiang Medical University in China were used to determine the sexing accuracy of MCI. The mesiodistal (MD) dimension of mandibular canine crowns, the inter-canine distance, and the MCI were calculated. The accuracy of the standard MCI derived from the current data was compared with that of the standard MCIs derived from previous data. Results were statistically described using the independent-samples t-test. The MD dimension of mandibular crown, the inter-canine distance, and the MCI exhibited statistically significant sexual dimorphism. Sex determination using the MCI derived from the current data revealed fairly reliable results. Therefore, MCI is a reliable method for sex determination for Uyghur population, with 0.248 as standard MCI value.

Foodborne botulism treated with heptavalent botulism antitoxin.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of foodborne botulism and subsequent use of the investigational heptavalent botulism antitoxin (H-BAT). CASE SUMMARY: A 60-year-old man was hospitalized with blurred vision, diplopia, and dysarthria. On hospital day 2, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit for progressive fatigable weakness with ptosis, dysphagia, dysarthria, and nausea. Secondary to worsening respiratory distress, the patient was intubated and placed on a ventilator. The patient could open his eyes only with assistance but still had normal strength in all extremities. H-BAT was administered 48 hours after presentation for possible botulism. The patient then revealed that he consumed home-canned corn several days prior to admission. On hospital day 8, botulinum neurotoxin was confirmed in the patient's serum and the home-canned corn. The patient slowly regained muscle strength and was discharged to a long-term acute care facility on hospital day 22. DISCUSSION: Foodborne botulism is caused by a neurotoxin from Clostridium botulinum and usually occurs after the consumption of improperly prepared home-canned food. Botulism is characterized by symmetrical descending paralysis that may progress to respiratory arrest. The standard confirmatory test for botulism is a mouse bioassay to prove the presence of botulinum neurotoxin. Outside of supportive care, the treatment options for botulism are limited. Individuals with botulism often require intensive care unit monitoring and potentially ventilatory support. H-BAT, the only treatment available for botulism in patients older than 1 year, is a purified and despeciated equine-derived immunoglobulin active against all known botulinum neurotoxins. H-BAT's despeciation significantly reduces the risk of hypersensitivity reactions, anaphylaxis, and serum sickness. CONCLUSIONS: In a confirmed case of foodborne botulism treated with H-BAT, the patient tolerated H-BAT and did not develop any hypersensitivity reactions or serum sickness.

Treatment of meningitis caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium: high-dose and combination daptomycin therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To report 3 successful treatments of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium meningitis in adults using daptomycin and either linezolid or gentamicin. CASE SUMMARY: Three case reports involving males (aged 58-78 years) are presented; in each case (trigeminal nerve microvascular decompression and subdural hygroma; paraspinal abscess; and hydrocephalus with subsequent craniotomy and ventriculo-peritoneal shunt placement) CSF examination revealed vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) susceptible to daptomycin, gentamicin, and/or linezolid. Threeto four-week treatment regimens with daptomycin 6-12 mg/kg and either gentamicin or linezolid led to clinical resolution and microbiological clearance of infection. DISCUSSION: Daptomycin has previously been shown to be successful in treating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-associated meningitis and other serious VRE and enterococcal infections. Higher than approved doses of daptomycin were used in 2 cases where in theory higher CSF concentrations would thus be obtained. Gentamicin and linezolid were added to daptomycin therapy based on in vitro data synergy results and because of documented successful treatment for VRE meningitis, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The difficulty in treating VRE CSF infections involves both drug kinetics and microbial resistance factors, as well as external factors such as foreign bodies like shunts. This report highlighted 3 cases where daptomycin use in concert with either gentamicin or linezolid was successful in treating this infection. Additional controlled trials will be helpful in identifying the best strategies when using daptomycin to treat CSF infections.

Clonal dissemination of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase KPC-3 in Long Beach, California.

Carbapenems (CARBs) are the primary treatment for infections caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. Production of a serine carbapenemase, KPC, is increasing alarmingly in the United States and is probably contributing to CARB resistance rates. We describe the clinical and molecular characteristics of four infections caused by KPC-3 K. pneumoniae strains.