Fungal effector genes involved in the suppression of chitin signaling as novel targets for the control of powdery mildew disease via a nontransgenic RNA interference approach.

Background: Chitin is a crucial component of fungal cell walls and an effective elicitor of plant immunity; however, phytopathogenic fungi have developed virulence mechanisms to counteract the activation of this plant defensive response. In this study, the molecular mechanism of chitin-induced suppression through effectors involved in chitin deacetylases (CDAs) and their degradation (EWCAs) was investigated with the idea of developing novel dsRNA-biofungicides to control the cucurbit powdery mildew caused by Podosphaera xanthii.

Results: The molecular mechanisms associated with the silencing effect of the PxCDA and PxEWCAs genes were first studied through dsRNA cotyledon infiltration assays, which revealed a ≈80% reduction in fungal biomass and a 50% decrease in gene expression.

Muscle Biomarkers in Colorectal Cancer Outpatients: Agreement Between Computed Tomography, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis, and Nutritional Ultrasound.

Background: Muscle quality and mass in cancer patients have prognostic and diagnostic importance.

Objectives: The objectives are to analyze agreement between gold-standard and bedside techniques for morphofunctional assessment.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 156 consecutive colorectal cancer outpatients that underwent computed tomography (CT) scanning at lumbar level 3 (L3), whole-body bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), point-of-care nutritional ultrasound (US), anthropometry, and handgrip strength in the same day.

Improving the nutritional evaluation in head neck cancer patients using bioelectrical impedance analysis: Not only the phase angle matters.

Background: Malnutrition and sarcopenia are highly prevalent in patients with head neck cancer (HNC). An accurate early diagnosis is necessary for starting nutritional support, as both are clearly associated with clinical outcomes and mortality. We aimed to evaluate the applicability and accuracy of body composition analysis using electrical bioimpedance vectorial analysis (BIVA) for diagnosing malnutrition and sarcopenia in patients with HNC cancer undergoing systemic treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.