Agronomic performance of forage corn for cattle feeding in Amazonas, Peru.

Corn (Zea mays) silage is an important and popular feed for dairy production in the Amazon region, so it is necessary to evaluate the agronomic performance of forage varieties of corn for cattle feeding in Amazonas. For this purpose, three corn varieties were evaluated (variety 1: Yellow Starchy Corn, variety 2: Chuska INIA 617, and variety 3: DOW 2B710), with two planting densities (density 1: 30 × 80 cm and density 2: 35 × 75 cm) and two fertilization conditions: with fertilization (F1) and without fertilization (F2). The parameters evaluated were plant height, number of leaves, leaf length and width, stem diameter, fresh forage, and dry matter. Student t-tests, correlation analysis of variables, and principal component analysis using R software version 4.1.3 were used for data analysis. The results indicated that variety 2 obtained the best values for the variables leaf width (12.33 cm) and stem diameter (3.25 cm), fresh forage (17.77 kg/m2), and dry matter (4.8 kg/m2), which would explain the directly proportional correlation found between leaf width and stem diameter with fresh forage and dry matter. The principal component analysis showed constant height and leaf length increases, and the best-evaluated parameters were associated with applying fertilizer. The variety that showed the best agronomic performance under Chachapoyas conditions was Chuska INIA 617, emerging as a potential feed for cattle.

New wheat variety INIA 440 - K'ANCHAREQ: Selection and agronomic and commercial characterization in Cusco, Peru.

The objective of this study was to select and characterize agronomically the advanced bread wheat line H - 1246 which gave origin to the INIA wheat variety 440 - K'ANCHAREQ. The research included yield trials in farmers' fields during 4 production seasons (2012-2016), adaptation and agronomic efficiency trials in two production seasons (2016-2018). In addition, the reaction to Yellow Rust and distinctness, uniformity and stability characteristics of the new wheat variety and commercial controls were evaluated. The plots for each of the trials were conducted under a Completely Randomized Block design with three replications. At the end of the trials, desirable characteristics in the baking industry such as hectoliter weight, protein, ash, gluten and flour moisture were evaluated. The results showed that the new INIA 440 - K'ANCHAREQ variety has ten clear differences in qualitative characteristics, which distinguish it from other varieties and remained constant during the trials. The yield trials between locations showed the adaptation of the INIA 440 - K'ANCHAREQ variety to the different locations due to its high yield and hectoliter weight values. At the locality level, Andenes obtained the highest values in most of the production seasons. Adaptation trials during the second season showed the superiority of the new INIA 440 - K'ANCHAREQ variety for variables such as yield, plant height, ear size and thousand grain weight. The new variety showed no signs of stripe rust during the trials. Industrial quality trials indicated that it has good characteristics for the baking industry.

Agromorphological characterization of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) accessions from the germplasm bank of the National Institute of Agrarian Innovation, Peru.

Agromorphological characterization of cacao accessions in Peru is currently an important tool in the conservation and genetic improvement of cacao germplasm. The objective of this study was to carry out the morphological and agronomic characterization of 113 cacao accessions from the Huarangopampa germplasm bank. Tree, leaf, flower, fruit and seed descriptors were used. The data collected were processed by descriptive statistics using multivariate techniques. Five groups were formed according to similar characteristics. The accessions of group 1 are vigorous trees with an pod index of 19.27 pods/kg of seeds; the groups that presented better differential characteristics were group 2 with erect tree architecture, intermediate vigorousness, purple seed color and pod index of 20.07 pods/kg of seeds and group 3, which had the highest number of accessions with the lowest pod index of 18.77 pods/kg of seeds, besides being vigorous trees and having purple seeds. On the other hand, group 4 presented a particular characteristic of white seed color and high pod indexes with 22.11 pods/kg of seeds. Finally, group 5 accessions were characterized by intermediate tree architecture and vigor with an pod index of 21.3 pods/kg of seeds. The morphoagronomic characterization constitutes a first advance in the identification of cacaos with potential for genetic improvement and advances in the Peruvian chocolate industry.

Characterization of Coffea arabica L. parent plants and physicochemical properties of associated soils, Peru.

It is important to carry out the morphological characterization of coffee parent plants and the physicochemical properties of the associated soils in the Amazon region, Peru, in order to achieve germplasm conservation. One hundred coffee mother plants were identified and located in five provinces of the region and evaluated according to morphological descriptors such as stipula shape, young leaf color, leaf shape, leaf apex shape, young shoot color, leaf color, fruit color, fruit shape, mature leaf color, and rust incidence percentage. In the plots where the parent plants were located, soil sampling was carried out to determine the physical and chemical properties. The varieties with the greatest presence in the five provinces were Típica and caturra roja, with the greatest number of specimens reported for the province of Bagua. The predominant stipule shape was triangular (91%), lanceolate leaf shape (60%) and red fruit color (90%). Bongará reported the lowest incidence of yellow rust, as well as the Mundo Novo Rojo variety. Soil pH ranged from acidic to neutral values, low electrical conductivity, high organic matter content, low phosphorus content, high potassium levels and medium cation exchange capacity. The predominant textural class was sandy loam. The physical and chemical characterization of the soils under study show favorable ranges to encourage the best development of coffee cultivation.

Validating Immunotherapy in Alzheimer's Disease: The EB101 Vaccine.

Vaccination has become one of the most promising immunotherapeutic approaches in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related neuropathological hallmarks. Numerous immunotherapeutic interventions have attempted to achieve adaptive immunity against Aß with a range of different antigenic designs and immunomodulatory strategies, most of them with great success in AD mouse model studies. Most of these studies have shown that both active and passive immunization can drastically reduce amyloid deposition and prevent the decline in cognitive performance. New approved clinical trials are under investigation to test the effectiveness of those different vaccination approaches, although previous data showed modest clinical success with some adverse inflammatory events in immunized elderly patients. The search for new approaches to overcome these severe side effects has led to novel technical methods such as live vector or DNA vaccines, although the use of innovative adjuvants combined with selected amyloid peptides is among the most auspicious. In this review, we compare and discuss the past and contemporary vaccines and the future strategies that may lead to a viable improvement in AD prevention and treatment.

A comparative evaluation of a novel vaccine in APP/PS1 mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.

Immunization against amyloid-beta-peptide (Aß) has been widely investigated as a potential immunotherapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease (AD). With the aim of developing an active immunogenic vaccine without need of coadjuvant modification for human trials and therefore avoiding such side effects, we designed the Aß 1-42 vaccine (EB101), delivered in a liposomal matrix, that based on our previous studies significantly prevents and reverses the AD neuropathology, clearing Aß plaques while markedly reducing neuronal degeneration, behavioral deficits, and minimizing neuroinflammation in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Here, the efficacy of our immunogenic vaccine EB101 was compared with the original immunization vaccine cocktail Aß 42 + CFA/IFA (Freund's adjuvant), in order to characterize the effect of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in the immunotherapeutic response. Quantitative analysis of amyloid burden showed a notable decrease in the neuroinflammation reaction against Aß plaques when S1P was compared with other treatments, suggesting that S1P plays a key role as a neuroprotective agent. Moreover, EB101 immunized mice presented a protective immunogenic reaction resulting in the increase of Aß-specific antibody response and decrease of reactive glia in the affected brain areas, leading to a Th2 immunological reaction.

High-flow priapism caused by a pseudoaneurysm and an arteriocavernosal fistula: clinical and radiological approach of 3 cases.

OBJECTIVE: We report three cases of high-flow priapism in three young patients who presented erectile dysfunction after perineal trauma. METHODS: Complete clinical evaluation, blood tests, color Doppler ultrasonography (US), arteriography and selective embolization were performed. RESULTS: The clinical history and physical assessment were compatible with high-flow priapism. Color Doppler US showed a pseudoaneurysm and an arteriocavernosal fistula, which was confirmed and embolized using arteriography. CONCLUSIONS: High-flow priapism has a characteristic clinical presentation and physical examination. The radiologist has an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of this pathology. Color Doppler US and arteriography are essential in the diagnosis and allow embolization of the vascular injury. Prognosis is usually good.

Priapismo arterial por pseudoaneurisma y fístula arteriocavernosa: manejo clínico y radiológico de tres casos / High-flow priapism caused by a pseudoaneurysm and an arteriocavernosal fistula: clinical and radiological approach of 3 cases

OBJETIVO: Describir tres casos de priapismo arterial en pacientes jóvenes que presentaban disfunción eréctil e historia de traumatismo previo. MÉTODOS: Se realizó historia clínica, analítica, ecografía doppler color de cuerpos cavernosos, arteriografía y embolización selectiva lesional. RESULTADOS: La historia y exploración clínicas eran concordantes con un priapismo arterial. En la ecografía doppler color de los tres casos se identificó un pseudoaneurisma y una fístula arteriocavernosa que se confirmó y embolizó mediante arteriografía. CONCLUSIONES: El priapismo de tipo arterial tiene una historia y exploración clínicas características. El papel del radiólogo en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de esta patología es fundamental. La ecografía doppler color y la arteriografía son pruebas diagnósticas de primer orden y permite la embolización selectiva de la lesión vascular de base. El pronóstico generalmente es bueno

OBJECTIVE: We report three cases of high-flow priapism in three young patients who presented erectile dysfunction after perineal trauma. METHODS: Complete clinical evaluation, blood tests, color Doppler ultrasonography (US), arteriography and selective embolization were performed. RESULTS: The clinical history and physical assessment were compatible with high-flow priapism. Color Doppler showed a pseudoaneurysm and an arteriocavernosal fistula, which was confirmed and embolized using arteriography. CONCLUSIONS: High-flow priapism has a characteristic clinical presentation and physical examination. The radiologist has an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of this pathology. Color Doppler US and arteriography are essential in the diagnosis and allow embolization of the vascular injury. Prognosis is usually good

Immunocytochemical characterization of Alzheimer disease hallmarks in APP/PS1 transgenic mice treated with a new anti-amyloid-ß vaccine.

APP/PS1 double-transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which overexpress mutated forms of the gene for human amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin 1 (PS1), have provided robust neuropathological hallmarks of AD-like pattern at early ages. This study characterizes immunocytochemical patterns of AD mouse brain as a model for human AD treated with the EB101 vaccine. In this novel vaccine, a new approach has been taken to circumvent past failures by judiciously selecting an adjuvant consisting of a physiological matrix embedded in liposomes, composed of naturally occurring phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, and cholesterol). Our findings showed that administration of amyloid-ß1₋42 (Aß) and sphingosine-1-phosphate emulsified in liposome complex (EB101) to APP/PS1 mice before onset of Aß deposition (7 weeks of age) and/or at an older age (35 weeks of age) is effective in halting the progression and clearing the AD-like neuropathological hallmarks. Passive immunization with EB101 did not activate inflammatory responses from the immune system and astrocytes. Consistent with a decreased inflammatory background, the basal immunological interaction between the T cells and the affected areas (hippocampus) in the brain of treated mice was notably reduced. These results demonstrate that immunization with EB101 vaccine prevents and attenuates AD neuropathology in this type of double-transgenic mice.

Immunocytochemical Characterization of Alzheimer's Disease Hallmarks in APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice Treated with a New Anti-Amyloid-ß Vaccine.

INTRODUCTION: APP/PS1 double-transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which overexpress mutated forms of the gene for the human amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin 1 (PS1), have provided robust neuropathological hallmarks of an AD-like pattern at early ages. This study aimed to characterize immunocytochemical patterns of the AD mouse brain, which is treated with the EB101 vaccine, as a model for human AD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this novel vaccine, a new approach has been taken to circumvent past failures with Aß vaccines by judiciously selecting an adjuvant consisting of a physiological matrix embedded in liposomes, composed of naturally occurring phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, and cholesterol). RESULTS: Our findings showed that the administration of amyloid-ß1-42 (Aß) and sphingosine-1-phosphate emulsified in liposome complex (EB101) to APP/PS1 mice before the onset of Aß brain deposition (at 7 weeks of age) and/or at an older age (35 weeks of age) can be effective in both halting the progression and clearing the AD-like neuropathological hallmarks. In addition, passive immunization with EB101 did not activate inflammatory responses from the immune system and astrocytes. Consistent with a decreased inflammatory background, the basal immunological interaction between the T cells and the affected areas (hippocampus) in the brain of treated mice was notably reduced. CONCLUSION: These results provide strong evidence that immunization with the EB101 vaccine prevents and attenuates AD neuropathology in this type of double-transgenic mice.

Vaccine Development to Treat Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology in APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice.

A novel vaccine addressing the major hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), senile plaque-like deposits of amyloid beta-protein (Aß), neurofibrillary tangle-like structures, and glial proinflammatory cytokines, has been developed. The present vaccine takes a new approach to circumvent failures of previous ones tested in mice and humans, including the Elan-Wyeth vaccine (AN1792), which caused massive T-cell activation, resulting in a meningoencephalitis-like reaction. The EB101 vaccine consists of Aß(1-42) delivered in a novel immunogen-adjuvant composed of liposomes-containing sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). EB101 was administered to APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mice before and after AD-like pathological symptoms were detectable. Treatment with EB101 results in a marked reduction of Aß plaque burden, decrease of neurofibrillary tangle-like structure density, and attenuation of astrocytosis. In this transgenic mouse model, EB101 reduces the basal immunological interaction between the T cells and immune activation markers in the affected hippocampal/cortical areas, consistent with decreased amyloidosis-induced inflammation. Therefore, immunization with EB101 prevents and reverses AD-like neuropathology in a significant manner by halting disease progression without developing behavioral spatial deficits in transgenic mice.