Virulence Determinants Are Unevenly Distributed Within Species and Strains Causing Potato Common Scab in the Province of Quebec, Canada.

Potato common scab is an important bacterial disease afflicting potatoes around the world. Better knowledge of the local spp. populations causing this disease is key to developing durable control strategies.

Winter Rye Cover Crops Shelter Competent Squash Phyllosphere Bacteria to Reduce pv. Growth and Angular Leaf Spot Symptoms.

Cover crops, a soil conservation practice, can contribute to reducing disease pressure caused by , considered one of the most important bacterial plant pathogens. We recently demonstrated that the phyllosphere (leaf surface) bacterial community structure changed when squash () was grown with a rye () cover crop treatment, followed by a decrease of angular leaf spot disease symptoms on squash caused by pv. .

Identification and genomic characterization of spp. displaying biocontrol activity against in lettuce.

Lettuce is an economically major leafy vegetable that is affected by numerous diseases. One of the most devastating diseases of lettuce is white mold caused by . Control methods for this fungus are limited due to the development of genetic resistance to commonly used fungicides, the large number of hosts and the long-term survival of sclerotia in soil.

Genome Sequences of Two Plant-Beneficial Strains Isolated from Agricultural Soils in the Province of Quebec, Canada.

Two strains, B21-013 and B21-037, were isolated from agricultural soils located in the province of Quebec, Canada, as part of a screening for plant-beneficial bacteria able to suppress Xanthomonas hortorum pv. and other lettuce bacterial pathogens. Here, we report the genome sequences of these two organisms.

Harnessing the genomic diversity of strains against lettuce bacterial pathogens.

Lettuce is a major vegetable crop worldwide that is affected by numerous bacterial pathogens, including pv. , , and . Control methods are scarce and not always effective.

Genome Sequences of Two Soil-Dwelling Bacteria Belonging to the Family .

Members of the family are rod-shaped betaproteobacteria found in various environments. Here, we report the genome sequences of 2 bacteria belonging to this family. They were isolated from agricultural soils located in the Montérégie region (Quebec, Canada) and display biocontrol activity against various lettuce bacterial pathogens.

Complete Genome Sequences of Five Strains with Biocontrol Activity against Various Lettuce Pathogens.

Numerous bacterial strains from the Burkholderia cepacia complex display biocontrol activity. Here, we report the complete genome sequences of five strains isolated from soil. Biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for the production of antimicrobial compounds were found in the genome of these strains, which display biocontrol activity against various lettuce pathogens.

Radiographers and COVID-19 pneumonia: Diagnostic performance using CO-RADS.

Introduction: A more structured role of radiographers is advisable to speed up the management of patients with suspected COVID-19. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of radiographers in the detection of COVID-19 pneumonia on chest CT using CO-RADS descriptors.

Methods: CT images of patients who underwent RT-PCR and chest CT due to COVID-19 suspicion between March and July 2020 were analysed retrospectively.

Rapid identification of and species and characterization of streptomycin resistance using quantitative PCR assays.

and are bacterial phytopathogens responsible for considerable yield losses in commercial pome fruit production. The pathogens, if left untreated, can compromise tree health and economically impact entire commercial fruit productions. Historically, the choice of effective control methods has been limited.

Impact of acute hyperglycaemia on endothelial function and retinal vascular reactivity in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Aim:   In diabetes, endothelial dysfunction and an altered retinal blood flow have been reported and precede overt macrovascular and microvascular disease. Furthermore, an association between postprandial hyperglycaemia, retinopathy and cardiovascular disease has been observed.

Methods:   Endothelial function and retinal vascular reactivity have been measured in baseline conditions in 10 healthy control subjects and 21 patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Effects of a Mediterranean-style diet on the need for antihyperglycemic drug therapy in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: a randomized trial.

Background: Low-carbohydrate and low-fat calorie-restricted diets are recommended for weight loss in overweight and obese people with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: To compare the effects of a low-carbohydrate Mediterranean-style or a low-fat diet on the need for antihyperglycemic drug therapy in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Design: Single-center, randomized trial.

Hyperlipidemia and sexual function in premenopausal women.

Introduction: No reported studies exist assessing the relationship between sexual function and hyperlipidemia in women.

Aim: In this study, we assessed the domains of sexual function in a representative sample of sexually active premenopausal women with hyperlipidemia, but without cardiovascular disease, as compared with an age-matched female population without hyperlipidemia.

Methods: To be enrolled in the study, women had to meet at least one of the following criteria for the diagnosis of hyperlipidemia: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels >160 mg/dL; high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels <50 mg/dL; or triglyceride levels >150 mg/dL.

Effects of intensive lifestyle changes on erectile dysfunction in men.

Introduction: Limited data are available supporting the notion that treatment of lifestyle risk factors may improve erectile dysfunction (ED).

Aim: In the present study, we analyzed the effect of a program of changing in lifestyle designed to improve erectile function in subjects with ED or at increasing risk for ED.

Methods: Men were identified in our database of subjects participating in randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of lifestyle changes.

Circulating CD34+ KDR+ endothelial progenitor cells correlate with erectile function and endothelial function in overweight men.

Introduction: Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) circulate in the peripheral blood and are involved in endothelial homeostasis and repair.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the circulating levels of different EPC phenotypes in overweight men with or without erectile dysfunction (ED). As endothelial dysfunction is considered a necessary link with ED, endothelium-dependent vasodilation and its relation with EPCs were also investigated.

Characterization of a novel polymorphism in PPARG regulatory region associated with type 2 diabetes and diabetic retinopathy in Italy.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma polymorphisms have been widely associated with type 2 diabetes, although their role in the pathogenesis of vascular complications is not yet demonstrated. In this study, a cohort of 211 type 2 diabetes, 205 obese, and 254 control individuals was genotyped for Pro12Ala, C1431T, C-2821T polymorphisms, and for a newly identified polymorphism (A-2819G). The above-mentioned polymorphisms were analyzed by gene-specific PCR and direct sequencing of all samples.

Lifestyle approach for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Recent changes in lifestyle, including physical inactivity and unhealthy diets, are likely to have played an important role in the global epidemic of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Implementation of a healthier lifestyle, with an increase in physical activity and a reduction of body weight, based on the regulation of calories and fat intake, are the basis for the prevention and treatment of both type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Intervention studies based on changes in lifestyle in individuals at risk found that diabetes incidence was reduced by 42% to 63%.

Addition of neutral protamine lispro insulin or insulin glargine to oral type 2 diabetes regimens for patients with suboptimal glycemic control: a randomized trial.

Background: Injection of long-acting insulin at bedtime is a common therapeutic approach for patients with type 2 diabetes that is poorly controlled with oral regimens. Neutral protamine lispro (NPL) insulin has demonstrated better glycemic control and similar incidence of hypoglycemic events than that of neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin.

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of bedtime NPL insulin or insulin glargine in patients with type 2 diabetes who had suboptimal glycemic control while receiving stable doses of metformin and sulfonylurea.

Phenotypic assessment of endothelial microparticles in diabetic and nondiabetic men with erectile dysfunction.

Introduction: Endothelial microparticles (EMPs) may play a role as biomarkers of vascular injury. EMPs are higher in men with diabetes diabetic men with erectile dysfunction (ED) than in nondiabetic potent men.

Aim: The aim of this study was to quantize different phenotypic circulating EMP levels among diabetic and nondiabetic patients with ED, and to determine whether EMPs are released as a result of activation or apoptosis.

Obesity and sexual dysfunction, male and female.

Obesity has become a worldwide public health problem of epidemic proportions, as it may decrease life expectancy by 7 years at the age of 40 years: excess bodyweight is now the sixth most important risk factor contributing to the overall burden of disease worldwide. Overweight and obesity may increase the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) by 30-90% as compared with normal weight subjects. On the other hand, subjects with ED tend to be heavier and with a greater waist than subjects without ED, and also are more likely to be hypertensive and hypercholesterolemic.

Post-meal glucose peaks at home associate with carotid intima-media thickness in type 2 diabetes.

Context: Two-hour postprandial hyperglycemia is related to chronic complications of diabetes and is currently used in the international guidelines to drive the therapy.

Objective: Our objective was to assess the size and timing of post-meal glucose peaks in the everyday life of type 2 diabetic patients and the relationship with carotid atherosclerosis.

Design, Setting, And Patients: This was an observational study performed in 644 outpatients with type 2 diabetes attending diabetes clinics located in the area of the Campania County, South Italy, who provided complete home blood glucose profiles and centralized carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) assessment.

Mediterranean diet and the metabolic syndrome.

The metabolic syndrome (also referred to as syndrome X or the insulin resistance syndrome) has emerged as an important cluster of risk factors for atherosclerotic disease. Patients with the syndrome also are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Common features are central (abdominal) obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

Quantitative sensory and autonomic testing in nondiabetic women with sexual dysfunction.

Introduction: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a significant public health problem. There are no reported studies assessing the relation between sexual function and neuropathy in women, except for diabetes mellitus.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the correlations between peripheral and autonomic neuropathy, and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) among nondiabetic women with or without FSD.

Mediterranean diet improves sexual function in women with the metabolic syndrome.

In the present study, we tested the effect of a Mediterranean-style diet on sexual function in women with the metabolic syndrome. Women were identified in our database of subjects participating in controlled trials evaluating the effect of lifestyle changes and were included if they had a diagnosis of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) associated with a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, a complete follow-up in the study trial and an intervention focused mainly on dietary changes. Fifty-nine women met the inclusion/exclusion criteria; 31 out of them were assigned to the Mediterranean-style diet and 28 to the control diet.

Mediterranean diet, endothelial function and vascular inflammatory markers.

Objectives: To discuss present knowledge about the relation between adipose tissue, inflammation and the Mediterranean-style diet.

Design: Review of the literature and personal perspectives.

Setting And Results: Recent studies indicate that adipose tissue is an endocrine organ producing numerous proteins, collectively referred to as adipokines, with broad biological activity, which play an important autocrine role in obesity-associated complications.