Exaggerated myocardial torsion may contribute to dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Dynamic left ventricular (LV) outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) is associated with symptoms and increased risk of developing heart failure in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The association of LVOTO and LV twist mechanics has not been well studied in HCM. The aim of the study was to compare the pattern of LV twist in patients with HCM associated with asymmetrical septal hypertrophy with and without LVOTO.

Global longitudinal strain as a prognostic marker in cardiac resynchronisation therapy: A systematic review.

Purpose: Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) has proven mortality benefits for heart failure patients with moderate to severe systolic left ventricular dysfunction and evidence of a left bundle branch block. Determining responders to this therapy can be difficult due to the presence of myocardial fibrosis and scar. Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) is a robust and sensitive measure of myocardial function and fibrosis that has significant prognostic value for a plethora of cardiac pathologies.

A benefit of high temperature: increased effectiveness of a rice bacterial blight disease resistance gene.

*Continuous planting of crops containing single disease resistance (R) genes imposes a strong selection for virulence in pathogen populations, often rendering the R gene ineffective. Increasing environmental temperatures may complicate R-gene-mediated disease control because high temperatures often promote disease development and reduce R gene effectiveness. Here, performance of one rice bacterial blight disease R gene was assessed in field and growth chamber studies to determine the influence of temperature on R gene effectiveness and durability.

Phenotypic and genetic diversity of rice seed-associated bacteria and their role in pathogenicity and biological control.

Aims: To study the phenotypic and genetic diversity of culturable bacteria associated with rice seed and to asses the antagonistic and pathogenic potential of the isolated bacteria.

Methods And Results: Seed of rice cultivar PSBRc14 was collected from farmers' fields of irrigated lowland in southern Luzon, Philippines. Isolations of distinct colonies yielded 498 isolates.

Effect of a Soil Amendment on the Survival of Ralstonia solanacearum in Different Soils.

ABSTRACT The effect of a soil amendment (SA) composed of urea (200 kg of N per ha) and CaO (5,000 kg/ha) on the survival of Ralstonia solanacearum in four Philippine soils was investigated in a series of laboratory experiments. Within 3 weeks after application, the SA either caused an initial decrease, a final decline, or no change in the pathogen population, depending on the particular soil type. An initial decrease occurred in a soil with a basic pH and resulted in a significantly (P < 0.