HO-CR and HOLL-CR: new forms of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) with altered fatty acid composition and resistance to selected pathotypes of Plasmodiophora brassicae (clubroot)

The priority in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) research and breeding programs worldwide is to combine different features to develop cultivars tailored to specific applications of this crop. In this study, forms with a modified fatty acid composition of seed oil were successfully combined with a source of resistance to Plasmodiophora brassicae Wor., a harmful protist-causing clubroot. Three HO-type recombinants in F6-F12 generations with oleic acid content of 80.2-82.1% and one HOLL-type F6 inbred mutant recombinant (HOmut × LLmut), with a high oleic acid content (80.9%) and reduced linolenic acid content (2.3%), were crossed with the cultivar Tosca, resistant to several pathotypes of P. brassicae. The work involved genotyping with the use of DNA markers specific for allelic variants of desaturase genes responsible for the synthesis of oleic and linolenic fatty acids, CAPS (FAD2 desaturase, C18:1), and SNaPshot (FAD3 desaturase, C18:3), respectively. Of 350 progenies in the F3 generation, 192 (55%) were selected for further studies. Among them, 80 HO (≥ 72%) lines were identified, 10 of which showed resistance to at least one up to four P. brassicae pathotypes. Thirty lines in the selected progeny contained high oleic acid and less than 5% linolenic acid; eight of them belonged to the HOLL type conferring resistance to at least one pathotype. Two HO lines and two HOLL lines were resistant to four pathotypes. The resulting HO-CR and HOLL-CR inbred lines with altered seed oil fatty acid composition and resistance to P. brassicae represent unique oilseed rape material with the desired combination of valuable traits.

Comparison of COVID-19 and RSV Infection Courses in Infants and Children under 36 Months Hospitalized in Paediatric Department in Fall and Winter Season 2021/2022

BACKGROUND

The study aimed to determine the differences between COVID-19 and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in young children hospitalized in the pediatric department.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 52 children with COVID-19 and 43 children with RSV infection younger than 36 months hospitalized in a pediatric department between September 2021 and March 2022. Clinical and laboratory findings, methods of treatment and hospitalization length were compared.

RESULTS

In the RSV group, significantly higher rates of cough (93.2% vs. 38.5%), rhinitis (83.7% vs. 50%), dyspnea (83.7% vs. 21.1%), crackles (69.8% vs. 5.8%) and wheezes (72.1% vs. 9.6%) were observed. The COVID-19 group had significantly higher rates of fever (80.8% vs. 37.2%) and seizures (13.5% vs. 0%). Patients with RSV infection had significantly higher rates of bronchodilator therapy (88.37% vs. 5.77%) and oxygen therapy (48.8% vs. 7.7%) and required a longer hospital stay (8 vs. 3 days). In admission, the majority of the patients from both groups were not treated with antibiotics, but because of clinical deterioration and suspected bacterial co-infections, antibiotics were administered significantly more frequently in the RSV group (30.2% vs. 9.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

RSV infection in infants and small children had a more severe course than COVID-19 infection. RSV infection was associated with a longer hospitalization period and required more elaborate treatment.

Changes in the approach to employee development in organisations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the direction and extent of changes in the approach of organisations to employee development that have occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is of a qualitative nature. The thematic exploration uses the analysis of findings from 19 in-depth interviews with experienced HR managers and is preceded by desk research.

Findings

The findings advance our understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected developmental processes in organisations. The results indicate, apart from the change in the form and methodology of employee trainings due to the pandemic, that employees also desire new subjects to aid their development. One also noticed decreased employee engagement and increased fatigue with the use of multiple, online development initiatives.

Practical implications

For learning and development (L&D) practitioners, there are implications in relation to tailoring developmental offerings to fit the needs of employees to help them to progress more in the course of their work. In this new reality, an agile approach to employee development can work much better. The activities of the L&D departments should also take into greater account the changing and unpredictable reality as well as the evolving nature of information and communication technologies (ICT). The COVID-19 pandemic may contribute to the analysis and modernisation of existing offerings for development in organisations and foster a culture of lifelong learning.

Originality/value

This research makes an important contribution to the literature by examining the impact of situational context on modifications in development activities undertaken in organisations. The results indicate the need to change the existing role of L&D teams in organisations, taking into account the maximum use of e-learning potential, while understanding its limitations. It can be assumed that while the pandemic develops, designing hybrid learning will become even more important and L&D professionals will focus on combining the flexibility of self-training and available online resources with highly engaging real-world experiences.

Marker assisted selection of new high oleic and low linolenic winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) inbred lines revealing good agricultural value

Development of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) breeding lines producing oil characterized by high oleic and low linolenic acid content is an important goal of rapeseed breeding programs worldwide. Such kind of oil is ideal for deep frying and can also be used as a raw material for biodiesel production. By performing chemical mutagenesis using ethyl methanesulfonate, we obtained mutant winter rapeseed breeding lines that can produce oil with a high content of oleic acid (C18:1, more than 75%) and a low content of linolenic acid (C18:3, less than 3%). However, the mutant lines revealed low agricultural value as they were characterized by low seed yield, low wintering, and high content of glucosinolates in seed meal. The aim of this work was to improve the mutant lines and develop high-oleic and low-linolenic recombinants exhibiting both good oil quality and high agronomic value. The plant materials used in this study included high-oleic and low-linolenic mutant breeding lines and high-yielding domestic canola-type breeding lines of good agricultural value with high oleic acid content and extremely low glucosinolates content. Field trials were conducted in four environments, in a randomized complete block design. Phenotyping was performed for wintering, yield of seed and oil, and seed quality traits. Genotype × environment interaction was investigated with respect to the content of C18:1 and C18:3 acids in seed oil. Genotyping was done for the selection of homozygous high oleic and low linolenic lines using allele-specific CAPS markers and SNaPshot assay, respectively. Finally, new high oleic and low linolenic winter rapeseed recombinant lines were obtained for use as a starting material for the development of new varieties that may be of high value on the oil crop market.

Association of <i>TLR4</i> and <i>CARD15/NOD2</i> polymorphisms with SCC in Holstein–Friesian cattle

Abstract. Mastitis is one of the most important dairy cattle diseases which results in economic losses in dairy production. Mastitis cases can be classified as subclinical or clinical. All forms of mastitis lead to changes in milk composition and induce an increase in somatic cell count (SCC). SCC is a very important and basic indicator of udder health. An increase in SCC is usually caused by the immune response to the invasion of pathogens contributing to mastitis. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between the polymorphisms of selected genes (TLR4 and CARD15/NOD2) whose products are involved in the identification of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) during the innate immune response to infection, and immunity to mastitis expressed as SCC. The genes under study were also examined for epistatic effects as well as effects of interactions with parity and stages of lactation. In all the studied classes, allele G of TLR4 had a favourable additive effect with negative values, contributing to a lower lnSCC. Allele A of CARD15/NOD2 had a desirable additive effect which varied with time and the changing internal environment during lactation. With regard to the dominance effect, allele A of CARD15/NOD2 was found to be significantly associated with a higher SCC in milk in the first lactation and in the third stage of each single lactation. Moreover, statistically significant epistatic effects were found, in particular additive–additive and dominance–additive interactions were favourably associated with SCC which was lower than expected in the case of no epistasis.

Determination of fatty acid composition in seed oil of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) by mutated alleles of the FAD3 desaturase genes

One of the goals in oilseed rape programs is to develop genotypes producing oil with low linolenic acid content (C18:3, ≤3%). Low linolenic mutant lines of canola rapeseed were obtained via chemical mutagenesis at the Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute – NRI, in Poznan, Poland, and allele-specific SNP markers were designed for monitoring of two statistically important single nucleotide polymorphisms detected by SNaPshot analysis in two FAD3 desaturase genes, BnaA.FAD3 and BnaC.FAD3, respectively. Strong negative correlation between the presence of mutant alleles of the genes and linolenic acid content was revealed by analysis of variance. In this paper we present detailed characteristics of the markers by estimation of the additive and dominance effects of the FAD3 genes with respect to particular fatty acid content in seed oil, as well as by calculation of the phenotypic variation of seed oil fatty acid composition accounted by particular allele-specific marker. The obtained percentage of variation in fatty acid composition was considerable only for linolenic acid content and equaled 35.6% for BnaA.FAD3 and 39.3% for BnaC.FAD3, whereas the total percentage of variation in linolenic acid content was 53.2% when accounted for mutations in both genes simultaneously. Our results revealed high specificity of the markers for effective monitoring of the wild-type and mutated alleles of the Brassica napus FAD3 desaturase genes in the low linolenic mutant recombinants in breeding programs.

Protective effect of red beetroot against carbon tetrachloride- and N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced oxidative stress in rats

The aim of the study was to investigate the potential protective effect of beetroot juice in a model of oxidative stress induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)). Male Wistar rats were treated with beetroot juice per os, 8 mL/kg/day for 28 days, and a single i.p. dose of the xenobiotics: 150 mg/kg NDEA or 2 mL/kg CCl(4). Simultaneously, two groups of rats not pretreated with juice were given only each of the xenobiotics. The level of microsomal lipid peroxidation in the liver, expressed as TBARS concentration, was increased several fold in rats administered only NDEA or CCl(4). TBARS were decreased by 38% only in rats pretreated with beetroot juice before the administration of CCl(4). In animals pretreated with juice and receiving NDEA, a further increase in TBARS occurred. All of the investigated antioxidant enzymes were inhibited by the administration of either toxicant alone by 26%-77% as compared to controls. Pretreatment with juice caused a partial recovery in the activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, by 35% and 66%, respectively. Superoxide dismutase activity was increased about 3-fold in animals pretreated with juice. Both xenobiotics caused a rise in plasma protein carbonyls, which were reduced by 30% in rats pretreated with juice and then injected with NDEA. Similarly, DNA damage in blood leukocytes caused by either toxicant was slightly diminished, by 20%, in the rats treated with juice before NDEA administration. It could be concluded that pretreatment with beetroot juice can counteract, to some extent, xenobiotic-induced oxidative stress in rats.

[Ultrasonographic analysis of cesarean scars features in nonpregnant uterus]

OBJECTIVES

To define and assess the new ultrasonographic parameters of cesarean hysterotomy scars and to analyze their variation depending on the number of cesarean sections.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Transvaginal ultrasound was carried out among 109 patients after cesarean section in the lower uterine segment with single-layer uterine closure. The following cesarean hysterectomy scar parameters were assessed: angle of the apex (K), basis (P) and height (W) of the anechoic triangle, the thickness of the knit tissue scar segment (G), G/P index and G/W index.

RESULTS

Transvaginal ultrasound detected the cesarean hysterectomy scar in 100% of the examined woman. In 5.5% of cases the completely knit hysterectomy scar tissue was identified. All patients from this group underwent a single cesarean section. In the remaining 94.5% of women, the ultrasound detected a presence of the anechoic triangle, defined as scar defect. No difference of statistical importance considering assessed scar parameters was observed between the groups of patients after one and two cesarean sections. The decrease of the thickness of the knit tissue scar segment (G) in the group of patients after three cesarean, sections in comparison to the group of patients after single (1.3 mm vs. 6.7 mm, p = 0.0134) and two (1.3 mm vs. 7.4 mm, p = 0.0366) abdominal deliveries, was found, as well as statistically important decrease in G/P index value in the group of patients after three cesarean sections in comparison to the patients after one (0.3 vs. 1.3, p = 0.0263) and two cesarean sections (0.3 vs. 1.2, p = 0.0138).

CONCLUSIONS

The new ultrasonographic parameters to assess the cesarean hysterectomy scar in nonpregnant uterus were introduced. Statistically important decrease in the thickness of the knit tissue scar segment (G) and G/P index value in the group of patients after three cesarean sections in comparison to the group of patients after single and two abdominal deliveries was revealed.

[Necrotizing fasciitis in a patient during interferon-alpha treatment for hepatitis C virus infection: case report]

Necrotizing fascitis (NF) is a rare disease with a mortality rate ranging from 24 to 60 percent. The infection may be mono- or polymicrobial and is characterized by extensive necrosis of the skin and muscle, as well as fascia and subcutaneous tissue. NF may develop at the site of injury, e.g. trauma, needle puncture, or surgical incision. The lower extremities, perineum, and abdominal wall are common sites of NF. The remaining 10 percent of cases occur in the upper extremities or neck, usually in patients with vascular disease or diabetes mellitus. The course is rapidly progressive and may be life-threatening if the diagnosis is not made promptly and appropriate surgical debridement is not carried out. We report on a 44-year-old man with necrotizing fascitis during interferon-alpha treatment for hepatitis C virus infection.

[The hypereosinophilic syndrome: case report]

The hypereosinophilic syndrome is a multi-organ disease characterized by large counts of eosinophils in peripheral blood observed during at least six months without any evidence for other known causes of eosinophilia. Idiopathic hypereosinophilia is rare and is always diagnosed by exclusion of other disease. This work describes a man aged 21 years who was hospitalized at the Department of Dermatology because of skin manifestations resembling eczema and urticaria. High eosinophil counts in this patient necessitated a wide array of diagnostic tests. The hypereosinophilic syndrome was diagnosed after more than 12 months of follow-up and exclusion of other causes. Corticosteroids and hydroxycarbamide were administered as first-line therapy. Unfortunately, the patient was unresponsive to steroids. Improvement in peripheral eosinophilia after Glivec therapy correlated with improved clinical status.

Studies on pyrazine derivatives--XXXIV. Synthesis and tuberculostatic activity of alpha-oxo ketene dithioacetals pyrazine derivatives

The alpha-oxo ketene dithioacetalic derivatives (2a-e) were obtained by the reaction of 2-acetylpyrazine (1) with CS2 and appropriate mono- or dihalogeno-compound. An action of the primary amines and diamines upon 3,3-di(methylsulphanyl)-1-(2-pyrazinyl)-2-propen-1-one (2a) yielded 3-(alkylamino)-3-(methylsulphanyl)-1-(2-pyrazinyl)-2-propen-1-on e (3a-g), 1-(2-pyrazinyl)-2-tetrahydro-1H-2-imidazolyliden-1-ethanone (3h) and the 2-hexahydro-2-pyrimidinyliden-1-(2-pyrazinyl)-1-ethanone derivatives (3i-j), respectively. Tuberculostatic activity of the studied compounds was found to be low except the compound 2b (MIC 192-62 micrograms/cm3; MIC 210-31 micrograms/cm3).

[Comparisons of laparoscopic and classical adrenalectomy from personal material]

Postoperative course in 12 patients which had laparoscopic adrenalectomy performed was compared with 8 underwent classic one in terms of operating time, blood loss, blood pressure recordings, C-reactive protein blood concentration, postoperative pain and hospital stay. The advantages of the laparoscopic approach have been stressed.

[Surgery for inguinal hernia from the extraperitoneal approach using laparoscopy--two years of personal studies]

From May 1995 to January 1997, 237 laparoscopic extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repairs were performed in Department of General Surgery of District Hospital in Szczecin. 197 patient had uni- and 20 bilateral inguinal hernia. The mean age of patients was 51 years. The average time of procedure and hospitalization was 38 min and 1.7 days respectively. Seven (3.2%) recurrences were observed in postoperative observation. As a conclusion, according to authors' achieved experience, one can say that the laparoscopic extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair is in benefit both for patient and for surgeon.

Expression of the cDNA and purification of P0 ribosomal protein from Lupinus luteus

Eukaryotic ribosomal protein P0 is localized on the large ribosomal subunit at the base of the specific "stalk" structure, close to the central protuberance. Recently we have obtained a clone coding for P0 ribosomal protein from L. luteus (yellow lupin) cDNA library. Here we present its expression in E. coli cells and purification of the target protein.