Multiplication of Cupressus guadalupensis Using the RITA® Temporary Immersion System

The Guadalupe cypress (Cupressus guadalupensis S. Watson) is an endangered species included in the list of the NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010. The presence of wild goats in the habitat has been the greatest threat to the propagation and survival of this species. Therefore, there is a need to generate propagation protocols that facilitate the regeneration of the species. Plant tissue culture offers various possibilities that can facilitate the regeneration of species under some risk. Temporary immersion systems have proven to be an option with various advantages in plant tissue culture, such as increasing the number of seedlings generated and reducing production times, compared to semisolid media. The objective of this chapter is to describe a protocol to propagate Guadalupe cypress tissues in a RITA® temporary immersion system.

Bioguided fractionation of procyanidin B2 as potent anti coxsackie virus B and Herpes simplex from cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.)

The methanolic extracts of cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) collected at three phenological stages were evaluated for their cytotoxicity on Vero cells by MTT test as well as on Herpes simplex (HSV-2) and coxsackie (CVB-3) viruses by plaque reduction assay. The methanolic extract exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against HSV-2 (IC50 = 20.40 µg/mL) and CVB-3 (IC50 = 47.50 µg/mL) at the flowering stage. This extract also exhibited a virucidal action both during the entry of viruses and the release of newly formed virions. The methanolic extract bioguided purification showed that the ethyl-acetate fraction was responsible for virucidal activity. This fraction was endowed with more important selectivity index of 8.15 for HSV-2 and 4.40 for CVB-3. The ethyl acetate fraction was subjected to thin layer chromatography fractionation and identification by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn. Results showed that the condensed tannin procyanidin B2 was identified for the first time responsible of the antiviral activity of cypress.

[Morphine and Apomorphine, in Sad Cypress]

Christie's Sad Cypress features an impressive trick with morphine and apomorphine. I read the book as if I were this killer, and also thought about the effects of morphine and apomorphine.

Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, and Anticoagulant Activities of Cupressus sempervirens In Vitro and In Silico

In the last decade, the urgent need to explore medicinal plants or drug development has increased enormously around the world to overcome numerous health problems. In the present investigation, HPLC indicated the existence of 18 phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the Cupressus sempervirens extract. Hesperetin represents the greatest concentration (25,579.57 µg/mL), while other compounds, such as pyro catechol, rutin, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, naringenin, and quercetin, were recognized in concentrations of 2922.53 µg/mL, 1313.26 µg/mL, 1107.26 µg/mL, 389.09 µg/mL, 156.53 µg/mL, and 97.56 µg/mL, respectively. The well diffusion method documented the antibacterial/antifungal activity of C. sempervirens extract against E. faecalis, E. coli, C. albicans, S. typhi, S.aureus, and M. circinelloid with 35, 33, 32, 25, 23, and 21 mm inhibition zones, respectively, more than the standard antibiotic/antifungal agent. Low values ranging from 7.80 to 15.62 µg/mL of MIC and MBC were recorded for E. faecalis, E. coli, and C. albicans. From the 1- diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, promising antioxidant activity was recorded for C. sempervirens extract with IC50 of an 8.97 µg/mL. Moreover, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and total antioxidant capacity assays (TAC) confirmed the antioxidant activity of the extract, which was expressed as the ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE) of 366.9 ± 0.2 µg/mg and 102 ± 0.2 µg/mg of extracts, respectively. α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition % were determined to express the antidiabetic activity of the extract in vitro, with promising IC50 value (27.01 µg/mL) for α-amylase compared to that of acarbose (50.93 µg/mL), while IC50 value of the extract for α-glucosidase was 19.21µg/mL compared to that of acarbose 4.13 µg/mL. Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) revealed the role of C. sempervirens extract as an anticoagulant agent if compared with the activity of heparin. Binding interactions of hesperetin and gallic acid were examined via the Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) Dock software against E. faecalis (PDB ID: 3CLQ), C. albicans (PDB ID: 7RJC), α-amylase (PDB ID: 4W93), and α-glucosidase (PDB ID: 3TOP). The obtained results shed light on how molecular modeling methods might inhibit the tested compounds, which have the potential to be useful in the treatment of target proteins.

Control of myopia using diffusion optics spectacle lenses: 12-month results of a randomised controlled, efficacy and safety study (CYPRESS)

BACKGROUND

Mutations in the L/M cone opsin gene array cause abnormally high perceived retinal contrast and the development of myopia. Environmental factors may also lead to high visual contrast and cause myopia. Diffusion optics technology (DOT) lenses are designed to reduce contrast signalling in the retina and slow myopia progression.

METHODS

The Control of Myopia Using Peripheral Diffusion Lenses Efficacy and Safety Study (CYPRESS, NCT03623074) is a 36-month, multicentre, randomised, controlled, double-masked trial evaluating two investigational spectacle lenses versus control lenses in myopic children aged 6-10, with a planned interim analysis at 12 months. The primary endpoints are change from baseline in axial length (AL) and spherical equivalent refraction (SER).

RESULTS

256 children (58% female; mean age at screening, 8.1 years) were dispensed spectacles. Across all groups, baseline averages were AL 24.02 mm (SD±0.77 mm), SER -2.01 D (SD±0.9 D) using manifest refraction, and SER -1.94 D (SD±1.0 D) using cycloplegic autorefraction. At 12 months, mean difference in SER progression for test 1 versus control was -0.40 D (p<0.0001), representing a 74% reduction and -0.32 D for Test 2 (p<0.0001), representing a 59% reduction. The difference in AL progression for test 1 versus control was 0.15 mm (p<0.0001) and test 2 versus control was 0.10 mm (p=0.0018).

CONCLUSION

12-month results from this ongoing trial demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of DOT spectacles for reducing myopic progression.

Paired Root-Soil Samples and Metabarcoding Reveal Taxon-Based Colonization Strategies in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Communities in Japanese Cedar and Cypress Stands

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the roots and soil surrounding their hosts are typically independently investigated and little is known of the relationships between the communities of the two compartments. We simultaneously collected root and surrounding soil samples from Cryptomeria japonica (Cj) and Chamaecyparis obtusa (Co) at three environmentally different sites. Based on molecular and morphological analyses, we characterized their associated AMF communities. Cj was more densely colonized than Co and that root colonization intensity was significantly correlated with soil AMF diversity. The communities comprised 15 AMF genera dominated by Glomus and Paraglomus and 1443 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of which 1067 and 1170 were in roots and soil, respectively. AMF communities were significantly different among sites, and the root AMF communities were significantly different from those of soil at each site. The root and soil AMF communities responded differently to soil pH. At the genus level, Glomus and Acaulospora were abundant in roots while Paraglomus and Redeckera were abundant in soil. Our findings suggest that AMF colonizing roots are protected from environmental stresses in soil. However, the root-soil-abundant taxa have adapted to both environments and represent a model AMF symbiont. This evidence of strategic exploitation of the rhizosphere by AMF supports prior hypotheses and provides insights into community ecology.

Mosquito Repellent Efficacy of Australian Blue Cypress Callitris intratropica Essential Oil and a Topical Formulation under Laboratory and Field Conditions

Mosquito repellents are important for personal protection against nuisance and potentially infectious mosquito bites. Repellent activity of Australian blue cypress essential oil (EO) and a commercially formulated skin lotion containing blue cypress EO (topical formulation) were compared with 20% DEET (N, N-diethyl-3 toluamide) against mosquitoes under laboratory and field conditions in North Queensland, Australia. On a volunteer's forearm, 1 mL of candidate material was applied to approximately 600 cm2 of exposed skin. When blue cypress EO was applied at various concentrations (0.5%-10.5%), it did not fully prevent mosquito landing or biting. However, a dose-dependent increase, approaching 80% protection, was observed at high EO concentrations. On the basis of these results, three concentrations (5%, 10%, and 20%) of blue cypress EO were selected for complete protection time (CPT) experiments. Topical formulation (undiluted) was also included in CPT experiments. Although some protection was afforded, mosquito landing/probing were still recorded immediately after application for both blue cypress EO and its topical formulation. Specifically, protection declined for blue cypress EO from 80% to 70% (laboratory) and from 93% to 50% (field) within 1 hour. For topical formulation, protection declined from 85% to 75% in the laboratory and from 63% to 50% in the field. In comparison, DEET maintained a 100% protection throughout the testing period of up to 1 h, and there was no landing/probing observed in volunteers who had applied DEET. To conclude, both blue cypress products provided some protection against mosquito bites, which decreased soon after application.

Cupressus arizonica Greene: Phytochemical Profile and Cosmeceutical and Dermatological Properties of Its Leaf Extracts

For many decades, natural resources have traditionally been employed in skin care. Here, we explored the phytochemical profile of the aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of Cupressus arizonica Greene and assessed their antioxidant, antiaging and antibacterial activities in vitro. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis led to the tentative identification of 67 compounds consisting mainly of phenolic and fatty acids, diterpene acids, proanthocyanidins and flavonoid and biflavonoid glycosides. The aqueous extract demonstrated substantial in vitro antioxidant potential at FRAP and DPPH assays and inhibited the four target enzymes (collagenase, elastase, tyrosinase, and hyaluronidase) engaged in skin remodeling and aging with IC₅₀ values close to those of the standard drugs. Moreover, the aqueous extract at 25 mg/mL suppressed biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterial pathogen causing common skin manifestations, and decreased its swarming and swimming motilities. In conclusion, C. arizonica leaves can be considered a promising candidate for potential application in skin aging.

[A MULTICENTER CLINICAL SURVEY ABOUT THE PREVALENCE OF JAPANESE CYPRESS POLLINOSIS AND THE EFFICACY OF SUBLINGUAL IMMUNOTHERAPY WITH JAPANESE CEDAR POLLEN EXTRACT DURING JAPANESE CYPRESS POLLEN DISPERSAL PERIOD]

BACKGROUND

Little is known whether sublingual immunotherapy using Japanese cedar pollen extract (cedar SLIT) is effective for not only Japanese cedar pollinosis but also Japanese cypress pollinosis. We investigated the prevalence rate of Japanese cypress pollinosis, efficacy of cedar SLIT on cypress pollinosis and patients' wish to receive cypress SLIT.

METHODS

We investigated a multi-center (31 institutions), cross-sectional survey using a self-administrated questionnaire with four questions for patients received cedar SLIT aged from 5 to 69 years old.

RESULTS

2523 subjects were enrolled for analysis. 83.4% of them had pollinosis symptoms during cypress season before cedar SLIT. In such patients, 37.4% experienced lessened efficacy of cedar SLIT during cypress season. Both the prevalence of cypress pollinosis and the lessened efficacy of cedar SLIT on cypress pollinosis were significantly seen in western Japan as compared to eastern Japan. 76.1% of the subject having cypress pollinosis before SLIT wished to receive cypress SLIT if it is available.

CONCLUSION

A lessened efficacy of cedar SLIT during cypress season was broadly seen in Japan, and further showed a regional difference. Together with the finding of high wish by patients, these results suggest a development of cypress SLIT is desirable.

[CLINICAL EFFICACY OF SUBLINGUAL IMMUNOTHERAPY WITH CEDAR POLLEN IN A YEAR OF MASSIVE CEDAR POLLEN DISPERSAL AND ITS EFFECT ON JAPANESE CYPRESS POLLINOSIS]

BACKGROUND

We investigated the effect of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) on Japanese cedar and cypress pollinosis in a mass scattering year of cedar pollen (total counts: 12353 grains/cm2, approximately four times the average).

METHODS

SLIT patients of 84 in the first year, 107 in the second year and 67 in the third year treated with Cedarcure® were included. During the 2023 cedar and cypress pollen dispersal season, nasal and eye symptoms and general symptoms were examined using a visual analog scale (VAS).

RESULTS

The VAS during the cedar season significantly decreased to improve with the number of years of SLIT, but the VAS during the cypress period slightly increased. A questionnaire survey before SLIT revealed that only 0.9% to 3.6% of patients had strong cypress symptoms. However, sneezing (p＜0.01), rhinorrhea, itchy eyes and total symptoms (p＜0.05) in the third year of SLIT were significantly stronger during the cypress period than during the cedar period. The VAS of total symptoms during the Japanese cedar pollen season were not affected by the pollen count, and the cure rate was affected by SLIT in the third year.

CONCLUSION

The clinical efficacy of cedar SLIT on cedar pollinosis was high even in a mass scattering year, and the effect increased with the number of years of treatment. On the other hand, it was shown that the clinical efficacy on cypress pollinosis was insufficient.

Composition profiles of halogenated flame-retardants in the surface soils and in-situ cypress leaves from two chemical industrial parks

There is limited information available regarding the investigation on typical organic pollutants between the soil and in-situ grown plant leaves. This study is to reveal whether the pollution characteristics of soil and leaves can reflect the long-term and short-term pollution situation, and to find the differences between halogenated flame-retardants in the surface soils and in-situ cypress leaves. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), dechlorane plus (DP), and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) in were investigated in two different industrial parks, which were located at the largest brominated flame-retardant-manufacturing center in Weifang, China. These chemicals were frequently detected with high median concentrations of PBDEs (1.22 × 10³ ng/g) and DBDPE (227 ng/g) in the soil samples, and DBDPE (881 ng/g) and PBDEs (461 ng/g) in the in-situ cypress leaves. The DP concentration was 1-4 orders of magnitude lower than the other two chemicals in both the matrices. Different composition profiles of the chemicals in soil and cypress leaves were observed. The PBDEs and DBDPE were found to be the predominant species in soils and cypress leaves, respectively. In comparison, the LG industrial parks had higher concentrations of PBDEs and DBDPE in both the soils and cypress leaves. No significant correlations were observed for these chemicals between the soil and leaf samples, although significant correlations (p < 0.05) were observed for several PBDE congeners among all samples from the industrial parks and a separate industrial park. The results indicated that the soil was not the important source of these chemicals in leaves. A large proportion of DBDPE was preferentially present in cypress leaves, which revealed the situation of recent pollution. The results deepen the understanding of chemical distribution characteristics among different environmental matrices in soils and leaves.

How Biochar Derived from Pond Cypress (Taxodium Ascendens) Evolved with Pyrolysis Temperature and Time and Their End Efficacy Evaluation

Biomass type, pyrolysis temperature, and duration can affect biochar properties simultaneously. To further clarify the mechanism of this interaction, the branch and leaf parts of Pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens) were separately pyrolyzed at four peak temperatures (350 °C, 450 °C, 650 °C, and 750 °C) for three different durations (0.5 h, 1 h, and 2 h) in this study. The resulting biochar properties were measured, which included the yield, specific surface area (SSA), pH, EC (electricity conductivity), the bulk and surface elemental composition, and the contents of moisture, ash, fixed carbon, and volatile matter. The results showed that the pyrolysis temperature was more determinant for the modification of all biochar, but the residence time had a significant effect on the yield, pH, and SSA of branch-based biochar (B-biochar) at specific temperatures. However, such a phenomenon only happened on the pH of leaf-based biochar (L-biochar). Results: (1) With the temperature at 350 and 650 °C, the residence time had a significant effect on the yield of B-biochar. (2) The pH of B-biochar and L-biochar varied considerably between durations when the heating temperature hit 650 and 750 °C. (3) The SSA of B-biochar possessed an obvious fluctuation with the time during the pyrolysis from 650 to 750 °C. According to the properties measured above, the principal component and the cluster analysis classified the 24 types of biochar made in this experiment into four groups and revealed that an obvious disparity existed between B-biochar and L-biochar that were pyrolyzed at temperatures ranging from 450 to 750 °C, which suggested that biomass type was the primary factor for biochar-making. All this information can provide valuable references for the optimization of biochar-making in the real world.

pollen allergens

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

Traffic pollution has been recognized as directly worsening respiratory symptoms of allergic subjects, although whether urban air pollutants can also directly increase the allergenic potential of pollen has not yet been definitely proven. Therefore, the hypothesis that intra-urban air NO2 variation influences allergens expression in Cupressus sempervirens (Cs) L. pollen was tested.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Mature microsporophylls were cut from Cs trees of similar age and height (14-17 m) present in three different sites of Florence (Italy) and processed in the laboratory. Cs pollen allergens amount was determined by a semi-quantitative analysis of electrophoretically separated pollen extracts fractions. NO2 air concentrations were recorded by air monitoring stations located at a distance not exceeding 50 m from each pollen collection site, and the relative annual mean values were acquired by a publicly available database (Tuscan Regional Agency for Environment Protection).

RESULTS

Expression of three major Cs pollen allergens was non-linearly correlated with mean annual NO2 concentrations. Expression peak of all major allergens considered was reached at NO2 air concentration (67μg/m3), far below the value at risk for direct effect on the respiratory health (European Union Directive 2008/50/EC).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that intra-urban NO2 variations do affect the expression of Cs pollen major allergens, and an apparent low risk NO2 concentration should be regarded as indirectly harmful for increasing the allergenic potential of pollen.

Bioactivity and safety evaluations of Cupressus sempervirens essential oil, its nanoemulsion and main terpenes against Culex quinquefasciatus Say

The essential oil (EO) of Cupressus sempervirens was obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed using gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Two monoterpenes, α-pinene (49.1%) and δ-3-carene (21.4%), and one sesquiterpene hydrocarbon, α-cedrol (5.1%), were isolated as the EO major terpenes. An oil-in-water nanoemulsion (particle size 71.2 nm) was produced from the EO through a low-energy method. The EO, its nanoemulsion and its main constituents showed mosquitocidal and biochemical effects against Culex quinquefasciatus Say, the common vector of lymphatic filariasis parasites. All treatments showed dose-dependent bioactivity, and adults were more susceptible to the EO products than the larvae. The nanoemulsion showed superior activity, followed by the crude EO and α-cedrol. At 40 μg/ml, the nanoemulsion caused 100% larval mortality, while the EO and α-cedrol required twice this concentration to achieve the same larval mortality. The LC₅₀ values were 8.4, 16.1, 15.1, 30.7 and 53.4 μg/ml at 24 h after exposure for the nanoemulsion, crude oil, α-cedrol, δ-3-carene and α-pinene, respectively. For adults, 20.0 μl/l nanoemulsion caused 100% mortality, while twice this concentration of the EO was required to achieve the same effect. The LC₅₀'s against adults ranged between 6.2 and 40.4 μl/l. EO products prominently repelled mosquitoes at concentrations between 0.75 and 6.0 μl/cm². The EO products caused remarkable inhibition of Cx. quinquefasciatus acetylcholinesterase activity but were safer towards the non-target aquatic species Gambusia affinis. These results recommend the use of C. sempervirens EO, its nanoemulsion and main terpenes as natural tools to control Cx. quinquefasciatus.

Using a simple spectrophotometer to analyze cypress hydrolat composition

The Pure Dew (Cypress Hydrolat), which could be extracted from the waste material after the extracting essential oil from Taiwan cypress, has a good bactericidal effect. However, due to the high cost on quality control and concentration measurement of the Pure Dew, its application was restricted. This research tries to find suitable spectral frequencies through which the absorbance detected by the spectrometer could be used as the index of the pure dew concentration. This study used Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometer (GC-MS) to analyze the composition of Taiwan cypress hydrolat. After obtaining the composition, the raw liquor of cypress hydrolat was diluted to 100, 50, 25 and 0% v/v with pure water. The test samples were then tested by a simple spectrophotometer. After the spectrographic detection of absorbance using a simple spectrophotometer, it is confirmed that the spectrum of wavelength between 205-350 nm is the most representative. The absorptance and the pure dew concentration was roughly in linear relation which suggested that a simple spectrophotometer can be used to develop a low-cost and high.

Different Polyphenolic Parenchyma Cell and Phloem Axial Resin Duct-Like Structure Formation Rates in Cupressus sempervirens Clones Infected with Seiridium cardinale

The aim of this study was the characterization of constitutive and induced defense mechanisms in the bark tissues of Cupressus sempervirens before and after infection with the bark fungus Seiridium cardinale, which is responsible for cypress canker disease. The time-course development of polyphenolic parenchyma (PP) cells and phloem axial resin duct (PARD)-like structures in the phloem was investigated in two C. sempervirens clones, one resistant and one susceptible to the disease, through anatomical and histological observations carried out by light microscope during a 19-day trial. PP cells were constitutively more abundant in the canker-resistant clone (R clone) compared with the susceptible clone (S clone), whereas PARD-like structures were not present in the bark of untreated plants of both clones. PP cells increased in both clones as a response to infection, but in the R clone, they were more abundant 5 and 12 days after inoculation. After inoculation, PARD-like structures appeared in the phloem after 5 days in the R clone and only after 12 days in the S clone. Even the number of cells surrounding the PARD-like structures was higher in the R clone 5 and 12 days after inoculation compared with the S clone. These observations demonstrate a faster phloem response of the R clone in the early phase of the infection. This may slow down initial growth of the fungus, contributing to the resistance mechanism.

The usability of Cupressus arizonica annual rings in monitoring the changes in heavy metal concentration in air

Air pollution, which has been increasing in recent years, has reached significant dimensions and has become one of the most important agenda topics of present day. Among air pollution components, heavy metals are of particular importance, since they are not easily decomposed, they tend to bioaccumulate, and some of them have toxic or carcinogenic effects even at low concentrations. Therefore, it is an extremely important subject to monitor the changes in heavy metal concentrations found in air. The most preferred method in determining the changes in heavy metal concentrations in the atmosphere is the use of biomonitors. From past to present, trees have been good biomonitors in determining the increase in heavy metal concentrations in the atmosphere. Particularly, with the help of the annual growth rings of trees, vital information can be obtained on the changes in heavy metal concentrations in air. In this study, after the annual rings were determined on the log taken from the main body of the cypress (Cupressus arizonica) tree cut from the Kisla park located in Kastamonu province, the concentrations of Bi, Cd, and Ni in the outer bark, inner bark, and wood were compared in the inward-facing and road-facing parts of these sections. Also, the changes in heavy metal concentrations in the annual rings were evaluated on a yearly basis. As a result of the study, it was found that the element concentrations in the outer bark of the road-facing part were generally at a higher level, and that the changes in the elements on a yearly basis generally followed a fluctuating course, but there had been a general increase in the Cd and Ni concentrations in recent years.

Optimization of hybrid treatment of olive mill wastewaters through impregnation onto raw cypress sawdust and electrocoagulation

This research investigation proposes a new method for sustainable olive mill wastewater (OMW) treatment and handling. It is based on the combination of its impregnation onto raw cypress sawdust (RCS) followed by electrocoagulation. The retention of OMW compounds onto various RCS doses show an important decrease of its chemical oxygen demand (COD) and its main cation and anion content. The maximum retention efficiencies of COD, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^-, [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] were about 51.0%, 75.3%, 28.7%, 77.9%, 84.7%, 41.1%, 98.3%, and 90.9%, respectively, for the highest RCS dose (200 g L^-1). This organic matter- and nutrient-loaded biomass could be thermochemically converted through pyrolysis into biofuel and biochar for energetic and agronomic purposes, respectively. The treatment by electrocoagulation of the pre-treated OMW using mild steel electrodes could be considered an attractive treatment method since 75.6% of COD removal efficiency was achieved. Besides, this approach permits a significant energy consumption reduction by 46% as compared with the electrocoagulation process alone. It allows also a significant improvement of the treated effluent quality in terms of both organic and mineral contents that could be reused for the irrigation of olive trees in the context of circular economy.

Biochar production from Cypress sawdust and olive mill wastewater: Agronomic approach

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) is nowadays considered as a serious source pollution. At the same time, it contains high amounts of nutrients, especially potassium and phosphorus that could be recovered for agricultural purposes. The aim of the current experimental research work is to investigate the agronomic potential use of OMW based biochar produced from the slow pyrolysis at 500 °C of raw cypress sawdust (CS) impregnated with OMW (ICS-OMW-B). In order to understand the contribution of OMW, two additional biochars were produced from raw cypress sawdust (RCS-B) and cypress sawdust pretreated with potassium chloride (ICS-K-B). Results indicated that RCS impregnation by OMW significantly improved the produced biochar's chemical properties, especially its nutrients contents. Furthermore, in comparison with the other biochars, ICS-OMW-B application as an organic fertilizer showed promising results in terms of produced fresh and dry masses, as well as potassium bioavailability as assessed in test experiments with ryegrass. For instance, the dry matter masses of the rye-grass treated with ICS-OMW-B were about 23, 34 and 50 wt% higher than the ones measured for the tests using RCS-B, ICS-K-B and synthetic K-fertilizer as amendments, respectively. Besides, this biochar has a potential effect on the suppression of various pathogens existing in the tested agricultural soil. All these results demonstrated that the biochar generated from the slow pyrolysis of impregnated sawdust with OMW could be considered as attractive and promising organic fertilizer for acidic agricultural soils.

CYPRESS POLLEN SESITIZATION IN GEORGIA: CLINICAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERISTICS

Cypress pollen allergy is a widely distributed, highly prevalent and severe winter pollinosis that may be caused by several Cupresaceae species around the Mediterranean basin, in North America and Asia. Exposure to cypress pollen has increased steadily over the last few decades and the prevalence of allergy to cypress pollen has also dramatically increased from 0.6% to 9.8% in the general population and from 9% to 35% in allergic patients, probably because of the allergen load has become more intense. The objective of the study was to evaluate cypress pollen allergy in Georgia and describe clinical characteristics and the molecular profile of sensitization. Patients attended to allergy clinic with suspected cypress pollen allergy (n=492) were included in the study. Diagnostic workup was performed according to local guidelines, specific IgE antibody against cypress allergen was performed using ImmunoCAP and ISAC assay platform. The airborne pollen monitoring was performed with a Burkard Seven Day Volumetric Spore-trap (Burkard Manufacturing Co Ltd, UK) during the seasons of 2019-2020, following the recommendations of European Aerobiology Society. 37.2% of studied cases were positive to cypress diagnostic test. From cypress positive 183 patients only 17 patients (9.2%) had no symptoms during the cypress season. The most frequent symptoms were sneezing and ocular itching (82.9% of patients for both symptoms), rhinorrhea was reported in 77.7% of cases and dry cough and shortness of breath - only in 22.3% (each symptoms). More than half of frequent symptoms were reported as severe. The cypress positive patients were mostly co-sensitized to plant allergen components: grasses (nCyn d1- 61.5% of ISAC positive cases, rPhl p 1 -72.5%, rPhl p 5 - 46.8%), trees (rBet v 1 - 27.5%, nCry j 1 - 78.9%, nPla a 2 - 32.1%) and weeds (nAmb a 1 - 48.6%, nArt v 1 - 20.2%). Our data show that in Georgia, the prevalence of sensitization to cypress pollen in patients attending the allergy clinic is high (every third patient). The clinical symptoms predominantly associated with allergic rhinitis and atopic conjunctivitis, in most cases which are expressing by acute sneezing and ocular itching during the pollen season and all patients are poly-sensitized. This was the first study to give a detailed description of the clinical characteristics of cypress pollen allergic patients in Georgia.

Meta-analysis of radiocesium contamination data in Japanese cedar and cypress forests over the period 2011-2017

Since Fukushima accident, dozens of field studies have been conducted in order to quantify and understand the behaviour of atmospheric radiocesium (¹³⁷Cs) fallouts in contaminated forests of Fukushima and neighbouring prefectures. In this paper, we carry out a detailed review of data acquired over 2011-2017 in Japanese cedar and cypress plantations, focusing on aerial tree organs, soil layers and tree-to-soil depuration fluxes. To enable comparison and reinforce the consistency between sites, radiological measurements were normalized by the deposit and interpolated onto the same spatio-temporal frame. Despite some (poorly explained) residual variability, we derived a "mean" pattern by log-averaging data among sites. These "mean" results were analysed with the help of a simple mass-balance approach and discussed in the light of post-Fukushima literature. We demonstrated that the activity levels and dynamics in all compartments were consistent and generally well reproduced by the mass balance approach, for values of the interception fraction between 0.7 and 0.85. The analysis indicated that about 5% of the initial deposit remained in the aerial vegetation after 6 years, more than two thirds of intercepted ¹³⁷Cs being transferred to the soil due to throughfall. The simulations indicated that foliar uptake might have contributed between 40% and 100% to the activity transferred to stem wood. The activity concentration in canopy organs rapidly decreased in the first few months then more slowly, according to an effective half-life of about 1.6 years. The activity level in the organic layer peaked in summer 2011 then decreased according to an effective half-life of 2.2 years. After a rapid increase in 2011, the contamination of mineral horizons continued to increase more slowly, 85% of ¹³⁷Cs incoming through the organic layer being retained in the 0-5 cm layer according to a mean residence time longer than in the upper layer (7 against 1.5 years).

Draft genome assembly of Passalora sequoiae a needle blight pathogen on Leyland cypress

OBJECTIVE

Passalora sequoiae (family Mycosphaerellaceae) causes a twig blight on Leyland cypress that requires numerous fungicide applications annually to minimize economic losses for ornamental plant nursery and Christmas tree producers. The objective was to generate a high-quality draft assembly of the genome of P. sequoiae as a resource for primer development to investigate genotype diversity.

DATA DESCRIPTION

We report here the genome sequence of P. sequoiae 9LC2 that was isolated from Leyland cypress 'Leighton Green' in 2017 in southern Mississippi, USA. The draft genome was obtained using Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) SMRT and Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing. Illumina reads were mapped to PacBio assembled contigs to determine base call consistency. Based on a total of 44 contigs with 722 kilobase (kb) average length (range 9.4 kb to 3.4 Mb), the whole genome size was estimated at 31,768,716 bp. Mapping of Illumina reads to PacBio contigs resulted in a 1000 × coverage and were used to confirm accuracy of the consensus sequences.

Strong dispersal limitation in postfire regeneration of Baker cypress, a rare serotinous conifer

PREMISE

Dispersal capacity primarily determines the spatial establishment patterns that drive range expansions and contractions in tree species. Seedling establishment in Baker cypress (Hesperocyparis bakeri [(Jeps.) Bartel]) relies predominantly on fire events, due to its cone serotiny, shade intolerance, and small seeds that require the optimal conditions of fire-exposed, mineral soil seedbeds.

METHODS

We quantified the density and spatial distribution of post-disturbance seedlings following the 2014 Eiler Fire in northern California and compared the observed recruitment to predictions from a mechanistic seed dispersal model.

RESULTS

Postfire recruitment was dense, averaging 11 seedlings/m² , and occurred primarily in the first year after fire. We estimated the mean descent velocity of the wingless seeds as ~4 m/s, the highest value reported for any putatively wind-dispersed tree species. The rapid seed descent contributed to markedly spatially constrained recruitment. Most seedlings (~81%) established within 5 m of the parent tree, and 94% established within 10 m. The maximum observed dispersal distance was 48.5 m; dispersal distance scaled linearly with canopy height. Distributions of modeled seed dispersal distance and observed seedling establishment in Baker cypress did not differ, demonstrating that wind disperses seeds a short distance because of the lack of a wing, and secondary dispersal appeared to be minimal at this recently burned site.

CONCLUSIONS

If seed dispersal is solely reliant on wind, migration in response to rapid climate change will be impeded and potentially present difficulties in sustaining populations of this and other obligate seeder species with equally constrained dispersal.

Evaluation of Anticipated Performance Index, biochemical, and physiological parameters of Cupressus arizonica Greene and Juniperus excelsa Bieb for greenbelt development and biomonitoring of air pollution

Plants can be used naturally to mitigate environmental pollution, such as air pollution; however, it is important to evaluate plant susceptibility to air pollution when considering green space creation in urban areas. In this study, we investigated the biochemical and physiological parameters, including pH, and ascorbic acid, relative water, total chlorophyl, proline, soluble sugar, protein, and free amino acid contents of two gymnosperm tree species, Cupressus arizonica Greene and Juniperus excelsa Bieb. Using these data, we computed the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) and Anticipated Performance Index (API) of the trees at five sites in Isfahan, Iran, to determine their applicability for greenbelt establishment. Our results indicated that these evergreen species are good indicators of air pollution and can be used as an early warning tool for air pollution level that is harmful to human health.

Investigations on phosphorus recovery from aqueous solutions by biochars derived from magnesium-pretreated cypress sawdust

The ability of biochars, derived from the pyrolysis at 400 °C; 500 °C and 600 °C of pretreated cypress sawdust with 20 wt% magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) solutions, in recovering phosphorus from aqueous solutions was investigated under various experimental conditions in batch mode. The experimental results indicated that cypress sawdust pretreatment with MgCl₂ induced important modifications of the physical and chemical biochars' properties favoring phosphorus recovery from the used synthetic solutions. Moreover, phosphorus recovery efficiency increased with the increase of the used pyrolysis temperature. Indeed, for an aqueous pH of 5.2 and a phosphorus concentration of 75 mg L^-1, the recovered amounts increased from 19.2 mg g^-1 to 33.8 mg g^-1 when the used pyrolysis temperature was raised from 400 °C to 600 °C. For all the tested biochars, the phosphorus recovery kinetics data were well fitted by the pseudo-second-order model, and the equilibrium state was obtained after 180 min of contact time. Furthermore, the phosphorus recovery data at equilibrium were well described by the Langmuir model with a maximal recovery capacity of 66.7 mg g^-1 for the magnesium pretreated biochar at 600 °C. Phosphorus recovery by the used biochars occurred probably through adsorption onto biochars' active sites as well as precipitation with magnesium ions as magnesium phosphates components. All these results suggested that biochars derived from MgCl₂ pretreated cypress sawdust could be considered as promising materials for phosphorus recovery from wastewaters for a possible further subsequent use in agriculture as amendments.

A wind tunnel study on the effect of trees on PM2.5 distribution around buildings

Vegetation, especially trees, is effective in reducing the concentration of particulate matter. Trees can efficiently capture particles, improve urban air quality, and may further decrease the introduction of outdoor particles to indoor air. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of trees on particle distribution and removal around buildings using wind tunnel experiments. The wind tunnel is 18m long, 12m wide, and 3.5m high. Trees were modeled using real cypress branches to mimic trees planted around buildings. At the inlet of the wind tunnel, a "line source" of particles was released, simulating air laden with particulate matter. Experiments with the cypress tree and tree-free models were conducted to compare particle concentrations around the buildings. The results indicate that cypress trees clearly reduce PM_2.5 concentrations compared with the tree-free model. The cypress trees enhanced the PM_2.5 removal rate by about 20%. The effects of trees on PM_2.5 removal and distribution vary at different heights. At the base of the trees, their effect on reducing PM_2.5 concentrations is the most significant. At a great height above the treetops, the effect is almost negligible.

Mating system, mate choice and parental care in a bark beetle

The cypress bark beetle, Phloeosinus armatus, is a common element of the dying cypress tree system in East-Mediterranean countries. Adult beetles congregate for breeding on this ephemeral resource. We studied three traits that characterize this beetle's sexual behavior and linked them to its reproductive success: mating system, mate choice, and parental care. We found that the females are the 'pioneering sex', excavating the mating chamber. The average female is slightly larger than the male, and female and male body size is correlated, demonstrating size-assortative mating. The time it takes for a male to enter the mating chamber is positively correlated with female size and negatively correlated with its own size, which is perhaps responsible for this assortative mating. Males remain in the gallery during the period of oviposition, gradually leaving soon after the eggs hatch. The number of eggs laid and tunnel length are positively correlated with male body size. Finally, in the presence of both parents, more eggs are laid than when the female alone is present, demonstrating the important contribution of biparental care for reproductive success. We suggest that the interaction between a monogamous mating system, assortative mating, and biparental care contributes to reproductive success.

[Effects of small hydropower substitute fuel project on forest ecosystem services]

Based on the Forest Ecosystem Services Assessment Standards (LY/T 1721－2008) issued by the State Forestry Administration, this paper evaluated four key functions of forest ecosystems, i.e., water conservation, soil conservation, carbon fixation and oxygen release, and nutrient accumulation. Focusing on the project area of Majiang County in Guizhou Province, this study provided some quantitative evidence that the implementation of the small hydropower substituting fuel project had positive effects on the values and material quantities of ecosystem service functions. The results showed that the small hydropower substituting fuel project had a significant effect on the increase of forest ecosystem services. Water conservation quantity of Pinus massoniana and Cupressus funebris plantations inside project area was 20662.04 m³·hm^-2·a^-1, 20.5% higher than outside project area, with soil conservation quantity of 119.1 t·hm^-2·a^-1, 29.7% higher than outside project area, carbon fixation and oxygen release of 220.49 t·hm^-2·a^-1, 40.2% higher than outside project area, and forest tree nutrition accumulation of 3.49 t·hm^-2·a^-1, 48.5% higher than outside project area. Small hydropower substituting fuel project for increasing the quota of forest ecosystem service function value was in the order of carbon fixation and oxygen release function (71400 yuan·hm^-2·a^-1) > water conservation function (60100 yuan·hm^-2·a^-1) > tree nutrition accumulation function (13800 yuan·hm^-2·a^-1) > soil conservation function (8100 yuan·hm^-2·a^-1). Small hydropower substituting fuel project played an important role for improving the forest ecological service function value and realizing the sustainable development of forest.

Lead removal from aqueous solutions by raw sawdust and magnesium pretreated biochar: Experimental investigations and numerical modelling

Lead removal from aqueous solutions by raw cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) sawdust (RCS) and its derivative magnesium pretreated biochar (Mg-B) was investigated under static and dynamic conditions through batch and column assays. The Hydrus-1D model was used to estimate the transport parameters of the lead measured breakthrough curves. The batch experiments results showed that Mg-B was very efficient in removing lead compared to RCS and several other previously tested natural and modified materials. The column experiments results indicated that for both RCS and Mg-B, lead breakthrough curves and the related removal efficiencies were mainly dependent on the used initial concentration and the adsorbents bed height. The use of Hydrus-1D showed that the two-site chemical non-equilibrium model describes better the experimental lead breakthrough curves for both RCS and Mg-B as the equilibrium model.

[Dynamics of carbon and nitrogen storage of Cupressus chengiana plantations in the arid valley of Minjiang River, Southwest China]

The carbon and nitrogen storage and distribution patterns of Cupressus chengiana plantation ecosystems with different stand ages in the arid valley of Minjiang River were studied. The results showed that carbon contents in different organs of C. chengiana were relatively stable, while nitrogen contents were closely related to different organs, and soil organic carbon and nitrogen contents increased with the stand age. Carbon and nitrogen storage in vegetation layer, soil layer, and the whole ecosystem of the plantation increased with the stand age. The values of total carbon storage in the 13-, 11-, 8-, 6- and 4-year-old C. chengiana plantation ecosystems were 190.90, 165.91, 144.57, 119.44, and 113.49 t x hm(-2), and the values of total nitrogen storage were 19.09, 17.97, 13.82, 13.42, and 12.26 t x hm(-2), respectively. Most of carbon and nitrogen were stored in the 0-60 cm soil layer in the plantation ecosystems and occupied 92.8% and 98.8%, respectively, and the amounts of carbon and nitrogen stored in the top 0-20 cm soil layer, accounted for 54.4% and 48.9% of those in the 0-60 cm soil layer, respectively. Difference in distribution of carbon and nitrogen storage was observed in the vegetation layer. The percentage of carbon storage in tree layer (3.7%) were higher than that in understory vegetation (3.5%), while the percentage of nitrogen storage in tree layer (0.5%) was lower than that in understory (0.7%). The carbon and nitrogen storage and distribution patterns in the plantations varied obviously with the stand age, and the plantation ecosystems at these age stages could accumulate organic carbon and nitrogen continuously.

Morphometric Variation on the Cypress Aphid Cinara cupressi (Buckton) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Associated to Urban Trees

Cinara cupressi (Buckton) is an important aphid pest of the Cupressaceae family, originally reported in Chile in 2003. Since then, it has spread over 4,000 km, contributing to conservation issues, mostly associated with native and urban trees of the Cupressaceae. In the present work, the morphometric variation of C. cupressi was examined to determine if the species present in Chile corresponds to a specific entity, and to identify variations among specimens from different localities in the study area. Colonies were collected from urban trees from northern, central, and southern Chile. Morphometric data for 14 characters in aphids from 63 localities in all the distribution ranges were measured and analyzed by multivariate analysis. Results showed that the species present in Chile corresponds to C. cupressi like a single specific entity, showing no morphological variation across the regions sampled. Our data will be discussed within the context of correct taxonomic identification for the implementation of effective biological control strategies.

Green roof systems: a study of public attitudes and preferences in southern Spain

This study investigates people's preconceptions of green roofs and their visual preference for different green roof design alternatives in relation to behavioral, social and demographical variables. The investigation was performed as a visual preference study using digital images created to represent eight different alternatives: gravel roof, extensive green roof with Sedums not in flower, extensive green roof with sedums in bloom, semi-intensive green roof with sedums and ornamental grasses, semi-intensive green roof with shrubs, intensive green roof planted with a lawn, intensive green roof with succulent and trees and intensive green roof with shrubs and trees. Using a Likert-type scale, 450 respondents were asked to indicate their preference for each digital image. Results indicated that respondents' sociodemographic characteristics and childhood environmental background influenced their preferences toward different green roof types. Results also showed that green roofs with a more careful design, greater variety of vegetation structure, and more variety of colors were preferred over alternatives.

Flammability of some ornamental species in wildland-urban interfaces in southeastern France: laboratory assessment at particle level

Assessment of the flammability of ornamental vegetation (particularly hedges) planted around houses is necessary in light of the increasing urbanization of the wildland-urban interfaces (WUIs) and the high fire occurrence in such areas. The structure and flammability of seven of the species most frequently planted as hedges in Provence (southeastern France) were studied at particle level. Spatial repartition of the different types of fuel particles within plants was assessed by means of the cube method. The leaf flammability was assessed using an epiradiator as a burning device, and measurements of foliar physical characteristics and gross heat of combustion (GHC) helped to explain the results of burning experiments. Co-inertia analysis revealed that species with thin leaves were quick to ignite (Pyracantha coccinea, Phyllostachys sp.) and species with high leaf GHC burned the longest (Pittosporum tobira, Nerium oleander). Species presenting high ignitability (Photinia fraseri, Phyllostachys sp. and Pyracantha coccinea) were characterized by high foliar surface area-to-volume ratio, and species presenting lower ignitability were characterized by high GHC (Pittosporum tobira, Nerium oleander, Cupressus sempervirens). Hierarchical cluster analysis of the flammability variables (ignition frequency, time-to-ignition and flaming duration) categorized the relative flammability of the seven species (including dead Cupressus sempervirens) in five clusters of species from poorly flammable (Pittosporum tobira) to extremely flammable (dead Cupressus sempervirens).This study provides useful information for reducing fire risk in WUIs in the study area.

Mulch preferences of the Asian cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

Mulch preferences of the Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai Mizukubo, were determined in a series of laboratory experiments. Because this species is a peridomestic pest, mulch preferences may be a key part of an integrated pest management program for homeowners. Five mulches were used: cypress, oak leaf litter, pine straw, rubber, and topsoil. Large arena experiments showed that adult male Asian cockroaches preferred oak leaf litter and pine straw, while adult females preferred oak leaf litter and rubber mulches. Nymphal stages preferred rubber (48.3-62.5% for small and medium instars, respectively) to all other mulches. All stages of the Asian cockroach showed very little preference to topsoil (0%) and cypress mulch (6.3%). Ebeling choice box tests confirmed lack of preference or repellency of adult males to topsoil (17.8 +/- 3.6%) and rubber mulch (15.7 +/- 3.6%). Continuous exposure experiments indicated that pine straw was significantly more toxic to adult males than other mulches (66.7 +/- 18.4% mortality at 7 d). Mulch preferences of the Asian cockroach may be mediated by characteristics of the interstitial spaces in the different mulches. Rubber mulch afforded smaller, more humid spaces that were inaccessible to adults. Because cypress mulch was least preferred by nymphs and adults, use of cypress mulch in an integrated pest management program around homes may help to reduce Asian cockroach populations and limit insecticide exposure to humans, animals, and the environment.

Analysis of calcium-induced conformational changes in calcium-binding allergens and quantitative determination of their IgE binding properties

The polcalcin family is one of the most epidemiologically relevant families of calcium-binding allergens. Polcalcins are potent plant allergens that contain one or several EF-hand motifs and their allergenicity is primarily associated with the Ca(2+)-bound form of the protein. Conformation, stability, as well as IgE recognition of calcium-binding allergens greatly depend on the presence of protein-bound calcium ions. We describe a protocol that uses three techniques (SDS-PAGE, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and ELISA) to describe the effects that calcium has on the structural changes in an allergen and its IgE binding properties.

Incense and ritual plant use in Southwest China: a case study among the Bai in Shaxi

BACKGROUND

Ritual and religious uses of plant-derived smoke are widespread throughout the world. Our research focuses on Southwest China, where the use of incense is very common. This study aims to document and analyze contemporary ritual plant uses by the Bai people of Shaxi Township (Jianchuan County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province), including their related ethnobotanical knowledge, practices, and beliefs.

METHODS

The present study builds on previous ethnobotanical research in Shaxi, which started in 2005. Interviews focusing on ritual plant use and associated beliefs were carried out with a total of 44 Bai informants in September 2009 and May and June 2010. The results are supplemented with information on the local religion collected from June to December 2010. All documented species were vouchered, and are deposited at the herbaria of Kunming Institute of Botany (KUN) and the University of Zurich (Z/ZT).

RESULTS

A total of 17 species have been documented for use in incense. They are always used in mixtures and are either burned in the form of powders in a censer or as joss sticks. The smell of the smoke is the main criterion for the selection of the incense plants. Incense is burned for communication with spiritual entities at graves, temples, and cooking stoves, as well as for personal well-being. Cupressus funebris Endl., Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall., and Ligustrum sempervirens (Franch.) Lingelsh. are the most important incense species. Others serve as substitutes or are used to stretch incense powders.

CONCLUSIONS

In Shaxi the use of incense mixtures at the household and community level is regularly practiced for communication with ancestors, ghosts, and deities and in some cases to strengthen self-awareness. Some of the documented species are widely used in central Asia and Europe, hinting at the well documented knowledge exchange that occurred in Shaxi, which was a major hub along the influential Southern Silk Road.

Rosaceae-associated exercise-induced anaphylaxis with positive SPT and negative IgE reactivity to Pru p 3

BACKGROUND

Food-dependent-exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) is characterized by anaphylactic symptoms after exercise following ingestion of food. We present a case of FDEIA induced by Rosacee fruits showing some diagnostic problems.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A 12 years-old boy with seasonal allergy to olive and cypressus pollens, experienced two distinct episodes of FDEIA, grade 4 and 3 of the Sampson Scale respectively, during intense exercise, about 30 minutes after eating a peach with peel or some cherries. SPT with commercial peach extract and fresh Rosacee fruits scored positive while SPT with a date palm profilin-enriched extract was negative. On in vitro tests total IgE were 44 kU/l and IgE for peach, cherry, Prup 3, Prup 1, Bet v 1, Bet v 2, Bet v 4 were negative. SPT with Prup 3 UniCAP device (cellulose polymer in a plastic reserve highly binding allergen protein) was negative. An oral food challenge, performed at rest using a commercial peach juice, scored negative. An immunoblot analysis performed with peach extract was negative.

DISCUSSION

The main peculiarity of this case of FDEIA is the discrepancy between positive SPT and negative in-vitro findings. The positive SPT with the commercial peach extract suggested hypersensitivity to lipid transfer protein; however, no IgE reactivity to rPrup 3 was found in-vitro. The negative immunoblot analysis, possibly caused by the low levels of specific IgE, did not allow us to investigate the nature of the relevant allergen protein further. It is possible that this patient reacted to a different peach allergen or, alternatively, that he recognized an isoform of LTP that is different fr-om that in Uni-CAP.

CONCLUSION

This case emphasizes once more the diagnostic relevance of SPT with extracts and fresh material to be performed before investigating IgE reactivity to single allergen components in-vitro.

[Prevalence of hypersensitivity to Cupressus pollen in allergic patients in Monterey, Mexico]

BACKGROUND

Cupressus pollen is one of the main causes of allergic respiratory disease in North America. In a previous study of pollen concentration in Monterrey, Cupressus occupied the 3rd place in frequency.

OBJECTIVE

To know the sensitization to Cupressus in patients treated at our center.

METHODS

We conducted an observational, cross-sectional and prospective study, with a questionnaire to assess potential exposure and allergic symptoms to pollen, skin tests with allergen extract of Cupressus 1:20 dilution, and skin tests with others 36 aeroallergens in our hospital.

RESULTS

We did Cupressus skin test in 256 patients (136 women), 130 younger than 18 years old and 126 adults. The skin test was positive in 39 patients (15.2%). Of the 36 aeroallergens tested, Cupressus occupied the 7th place in frequency. Of the 130 under 18 years, only 10 (7.7%) had a positive skin test. Among the other 129 adults, 29 (22.5%) had a positive skin test (p = 0.001). Patients with a positive skin test Cupressus had at least one positive skin test to other aeroallergen in 97% of cases (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Cupressus sensitization in our study group was high (15.2%). The routine use of allergen extract of Cupressus should be considered in patients with respiratory allergy. However, it is necessary to determine precisely the prevalence of sensitization and its possible clinical implications.

[Effect of aromatherapy massage on abdominal fat and body image in post-menopausal women]

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of aromatherapy massage on abdominal fat and body image in post-menopausal women.

METHOD

A Non-equivalent control group pre-post test Quasi-experimental design of random assignment was applied. All subjects received one hour of whole body massage as treatment by the same researcher every week for 6 weeks. Participants also massaged their own abdomen two times everyday for 5 days each week for 6 weeks. The two groups used different kinds of oil. The experimental group used 3% grapefruit oil, cypress and three other kinds of oil. The control group used grapeseed oil. Data was collected before and after the treatment using Siemens Somatom Sensation 4, a tape measure and MBSRQ. Data was analyzed by ANCOVA using the SPSS/PC+Win 12 Version.

RESULT

Abdominal subcutaneous fat and waist circumference in the experimental group significantly decreased after aromatherapy massage compared to the control group. Body image in the experimental group was significantly better after aromatherapy massage than in the control group.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that Aromatherapy massage could be utilized as an effective intervention to reduce abdominal subcutaneous fat, waist circumference, and to improve body image in post-menopausal women.

Protease activity of allergenic pollen of cedar, cypress, juniper, birch and ragweed

BACKGROUND

Pollen is an important trigger of allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and/or asthma, and an exacerbating factor in atopic dermatitis. Although it is proposed that protease activity from allergen sources, such as mites, enhances allergenicity, little information is available on that from relevant allergenic pollens such as Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress pollens, which are the major cause of pollinosis in Japan.

METHODS

We analyzed the protease activities derived from allergenic pollen of Japanese cedar, Japanese cypress, and Rocky mountain juniper, which belong to the Cupressaceae/Taxodiaceae family, and white birch and short ragweed, using synthetic substrates and class-specific inhibitors.

RESULTS

We found that the pollen of the three members of the Cupressaceae/Taxodiaceae family contained serine protease activity, that the pollen of white birch and short ragweed contained not only serine protease activity but also cysteine protease activity, that all five types of pollen tested contained at least one other type of serine protease, whose sensitivity to a serine protease-specific inhibitor was relatively low, and that the content and releasability of the pollen-derived proteases differed according to the plant families.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinically relevant allergenic pollens tested in the present study can release serine and/or cysteine endopeptidases. Information on the spectrum of the endopeptidase activities from these allergenic pollen grains will be useful for investigating their contribution to the pathogenesis of allergies.

Denitrification in cypress swamp within the Atchafalaya River Basin, Louisiana

Nitrogen has been implicated as a major cause of hypoxia in shallow water along the Louisiana/Texas, USA coasts. Excess nitrogen (mainly nitrate) from Mississippi and Atchafalaya River drainage basins may drive the onset and duration of hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Restoring and enhancing denitrification have been proposed to reduce and control coastal hypoxia and improve water quality in the Mississippi River Basin. Sediments were collected from six baldcypress restoration sites within the Atchafalaya River Basin, Louisiana, USA. The acetylene blockage technique was used to measure background and potential sediment denitrification rates. Denitrification fluxes were measured before nitrate addition (background rates) and after nitrate addition of 100mgNl(-1) (potential denitrification) at three seasonal temperatures. Background denitrification was low across all cypress swamp sites ranging from 0.9 to 8.8, 0.6 to 28.5 and 8.8 to 47.5g N evolved ha(-1)d(-1) at water/sediment column temperatures of 8, 22 and 30 degrees C, respectively. After nitrate addition, temperature had a significant effect on sediment denitrification potential. Maximum rates measured at 8, 22 and 30 degrees C were approximately 250-260, 550 and 970gNha(-1)d(-1), respectively. Most of the added nitrate in water columns, incubated at 8 degrees C, was removed after 65d compared to 32d and 17d at 22 and 30 degrees C, respectively. These results indicate cypress swamps have the potential to assimilate and process elevated levels of floodwater nitrate with denitrification being a major removal mechanism.

Application of the personal aeroallergen sampler to assess personal exposures to Japanese cedar and cypress pollens

We have recently developed the Personal Aeroallergen Sampler (PAAS), a passive sampler for aeroallergens. In the present study, the applicability of the PAAS for personal exposure assessments of cedar and cypress pollens was investigated by comparing with existing reference samplers. To investigate the usability of the PAAS as a personal sampler for the airborne pollens, it was compared with the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) sampler, a traditionally used active personal sampler. Overall, the result showed a good correlation between the two methods, that is, R(2)=0.8082, suggesting the usability of the PAAS for the personal pollen samplings. The ratio of the pollen numbers collected by the PAAS to the IOM sampler was approximately 30%, which was consistent with our previous study investigating ambient dust particles. Meanwhile, the comparability of the PAAS to the Durham sampler, the most widely used stationary pollen trap, was also assured. Furthermore, we exemplified the seasonal peak of the personal pollen exposures was not necessarily reflected by the outdoor concentrations, indicating insufficiency of the stationary outdoor monitoring to represent the personal pollen exposures. The PAAS, a simple passive method, could be used in future field studies to elucidate the detailed mechanisms of allergic airway diseases such as cedar pollinosis.

leaves growing in Egypt

Three phenolic compounds cosmosiin, caffeic acid, and p-coumaric acid were isolated for the first time from the leaves of Cupressus sempervirens L., together with cupressuflavone, amentoflavone, rutin, quercitrin, quercetin, myricitrin. The isolated compounds were identified using (1)H- and (13)C-NMR spectra. The hepatoprotective activity of the MeOH extract was carried out in liver homogenate of normal and CCl(4)-treated rats; a significant decrease in glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, cholesterol level, and triglycerides, while a significant increase in the total protein level, was observed after the oral administration of MeOH extract. The free radical scavenging activity against stable 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH*) was measured for MeOH extract and some of the isolated phenolic compounds in comparison with alpha-tocopherol and butylated hydroxy toluene as standard antioxidants using ESR technique, showed high antioxidant activity for quercetin, rutin, caffeic acid, and p-coumaric acid.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon generation behavior in the process of carbonization of wood

PAH generation behaviors in carbonization were compared, using cypress, chestnut, and bamboo as samples. Generation of tarry matter was almost completed by the time the temperature reached 400 degrees C, while generation of PAHs continued until the temperature reached 1,000 degrees C. The weight of tarry matter per unit sample weight was large with bamboo, while the amount of PAHs was large with cypress. Of the 15 types of PAHs measured this time, the largest amount collected was fluorene, followed by phenanthrene and anthracene. The amount of PAHs generated accounted for 6 x 10(-6) to 16 x 10(-6) of the weight of the wood samples.

[Study of recent yearly trend of increase in airborne pollen of Japanese cedar and cypress pollen]

BACKGROUND

Based on epidemiological studies of prevalence, sensitization as well as pollen survey, it is presumed that airborne Japanese cedar pollen (JCP) and cypress (JCyP) have increased progressively for past 40 years. However, because of their large yearly variations, accurate objective and scientific study is required to confirm if it is true or not.

METHODS

We analyzed the time trends of JCP and JCy separately in 11 districts throughout Japan where have records of continuous past survey from 1986 to 2005, by regression analysis using net pollen count and their 3 and 5 running means.

RESULTS

When significant slope of regression line (regression coefficient) is assumed as p < 0.05 and R2 (coefficient of determination) >0.4, significant increase in airborne pollen was revealed in the use of 5 point running mean (6 districts of total 11 in JCP and 5 in JCyP) but not net count or 3 point running mean because of correction of statistic error due to large yearly variations. This study suggested that our method used for analysis of a recent increase in airborne JCP and JCyP was useful and scientific.

[Investigation of trend in patients with pollinosis using web site: Comparison of these three years]

BACKGROUND

Recently, the number of patient with Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP) has been increasing. In the last 3 years, the amount of pollen has been very volatile. In this study, we examined that whether the amount of pollen influenced symptoms and selfcare using web site.

METHODS

For this examination, the questionnaire on web site was used from March 15 to April 30, 2003, 2004, and 2005 respectively.

RESULTS

The rate of early treatments was high in the years when the amount of pollen was large, while the rate was low in the years when the amount of pollen was little. In the comparison of symptoms, the severity of the symptoms, in particular, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, watering eyes, and disturbance of sleep, was highly related to the amount of pollen. In addition, these symptoms were the severest in 2005. And the selfcare was also changing according to the amount of pollen.

CONCLUSION

We concluded the greater the amount of pollen was, the severer the nasal congestion, eye symptoms, and disturbance of sleep were. The questionnaire survey that uses web site is a limited investigation of patient who has the access to the Internet. However, in the trend survey of JCP patients, it seemed that was extremely meaningful.

from Cameroon

The chemical composition of five column fractions of hexanic leaf extract of Cupressus lusitanica were analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and then tested for their antidermatophytic activities using the agar dilution method. The first fraction (F(1)) has only hydrocabon monoterpenes with alpha-pinene (80.0%) as major component. The main constituents of the second fraction (F(2)) were epi-bicyclosesquiphellandrene (35.3%), epi-zonarene (10.3%), 1S, cis-calamenene (13.1%) and beta-himachalene (10.4%). The third fraction (F(3)) was rich in hydrocarbon sesquiterpenes (45.4%) and a relatively high amount of diterpenes (29.8%) with epi-bicyclosesquiphellandrene (14.3%), pimaric acid (7.5%), kaurenoic acid (6.9%) and 8-beta-hydroxysandaracopimarane (3.5%) as main components. The last two fractions contain high molecular weight aliphatic hydrocarbons, their main constituents been eicosane (41.1%) and tricosane (37.3%) and heptacosane (22.1%). The agar dilution method was used to evaluate the antifungal properties of the crude extract and its fractions. These fractions showed several degrees of antidermatophytic activities against Microsporum audouinii, Microsporum Langeronii, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton tonsurans. Fractions F(1) and F(3) exhibited the highest antidermatophytic activities with repective MICs of 250 and 125 mug/ml while the fractions F(4) and F(5) did not prevent the growth of the tested fungi up to dose 2,500 mug/ml.

Streptomyces jietaisiensis sp. nov., isolated from soil in northern China

An actinomycete, strain FXJ46T, was isolated from cypress forest soil in northern China and shown to have chemotaxonomic and morphological properties consistent with streptomycetes. It developed greyish aerial mycelium and pinkish-brown substrate mycelium on oatmeal agar. Phylogenetic analyses based on an almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strain and on the 120 nucleotide variable γ-region of this molecule showed that it formed a distinct (but closely associated) line with Streptomyces griseoaurantiacus DSM 40430T in Streptomyces trees. However, the DNA–DNA relatedness between the two strains was only 48·8 %. A number of phenotypic properties also readily distinguished the isolate from S. griseoaurantiacus and related Streptomyces species with validly published names. It is proposed, therefore, that this organism be classified as a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces jietaisiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FXJ46T (=AS 4.1859T=JCM 12279T).