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In the present study, bacterial endophytes were obtained from weeds of potato fields. Their antagonistic activity was screened against potato storage pathogen, Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc) (JX029052), in the maceration assay. An endophytic strain, PC-2B was isolated from Convolvulus arvensis L. as a dominant weed of potato fields. In vivo application of this strain led to 58.8% reduction in tuber decay. This motile strain that can produce amylase was identified as Pantoea sp. using phenotypic features and 16S rRNA sequencing. Following PC-2B treatment, 56.7% Reduction in Disease Incidence (RDI) was obtained in preventative and 52% in curative challenges under semi-practical storage trails. Anti-Pcc bioactive compounds of Pantoea sp. was extracted and identified based on H NMR and FT-IR techniques. Two peptide antibiotics including Pantocin A and B with inhibitory effect against Pcc were characterized. These results might indicate that the tested Pantoea strain could be a promising candidate to protect potato tubers against soft rot disease caused by Pcc. However, large-scale complementary trials have to be conducted to validate these results before any recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SBRT is a standard of care treatment for localized prostate cancer. Intra-prostatic boost (IPB) may improve biochemical control. Additionally, the prognostic impact of early PSA nadir has been described by ICECaP collaborative. In the present series, we report early PSA kinetics for patients with intermediate risk disease who received IPB treated with SBRT with and without short course of hormone therapy. From October 2018 to June 2023, 280 patients with intermediate risk prostate cancer were treated with a robotic stereotactic body radiotherapy platform with fiducial tracking. Intra-prostatic nodules were delineated using diagnostic and treatment planning MRI by the treating radiation oncologist. Patients received the standard dose of 36.25Gy to the prostate and proximal seminal vesicles with isotropic expansion margin of 5mm, except posteriorly towards the rectum, where the margin was 3mm. GTV received 40 Gy. For assessing PSA kinetics, each patient's PSA value at diagnosis and follow-up, defined as 6-12 months after completion of treatment, were considered. PSA values were retrospectively extracted from each patient's medical records and the percentage of patients with PSA values <0.1 ng/mL, <0.2 ng/mL, and <0.5 ng/mL within 6-12 months of completion of treatment was determined. Patients were compared based on the use of short term (4-6 months) hormone therapy with SBRT. Of 280 patients, 157 patients received hormone therapy and 123 did not. The median and ranges of PSA values at diagnosis for each group were 6.9 (0.8-19.5) and 6.8 (2-19.9), respectively. Of patients who received hormone therapy with SBRT and IPB, 36.9% achieved PSA<0.1ng/mL compared to 1.6% for those who did not receive hormone therapy. Respectively, 58.0% and 4.1% achieved PSA<0.2mg/mL and 86.0% and 15.4% achieved PSA<0.5ng/mL within 12 months of treatment completion. SBRT is a safe and effective treatment for patients with localized prostate cancer. To our knowledge, this report is the largest series describing early PSA kinetics for patients treated with SBRT with IPB in the context of established PSA nadirs reported by ICECaP collaborative group. Long-term follow up is needed to determine the prognostic significance of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Lipid oxidation and generation of free radicals are important factors contributing to the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. Bilirubin is supposed to play a protective role against atherosclerosis, coronary artery diseases (CAD) and inflammation for its strong antioxidant property. Thus, this study aims at investigating the relationship of bilirubin level with the severity and type of coronary artery stenosis (CAS) in different patient groups. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study 200 consecutive patients, who underwent elective angiography in Madani Heart hospital, Tabriz, Iran, were selected and their blood samples were measured for total, direct, and indirect bilirubin level, with Diazo method using colorimetric technique. Following angiography, comparisons were made between the severity and location of CAS and therapeutic follow-up plan with total, direct, and indirect bilirubin level. Results: Of 200 studied patients, 129 (64.5%) and 71 (35.5%) subjects were male and female, respectively. The cases were classified into 5 subgroups based on angiography results as follows: 59 (29.5%) cases with normal angiography, 11 cases (5.5%) with minimal CAD, 56 cases (28%) with single vessel involvement, 35 (17.5%) cases with two vessel involvement and 39 cases (19.5%) with three vessel involvement. The mean total bilirubin level was 1.47 ± 0.8 mg/dl, 1.27 ± 0.12 mg/dl, 1.27 ± 0.06 mg/dl, 1.6 ± 0.04 mg/dl and 0.98 ± 0.05 mg/dl, respectively for the cases with above order. The mean difference in serum total bilirubin between normal angiography group and three-vessel involvement group was 0.49 mg/dl (P < .0001). There was a significant inverse relation between bilirubin level (total, direct and indirect) and number of involved vessels and involvement intensity increased as serum bilirubin level decreased. Severity of coronary arteries stenosis as well as the number of involved vessels increased as serum bilirubin level decreased. Conclusion: According to results, there was a significant inverse relation between serum bilirubin level and coronary involvement (type and intensity). Higher bilirubin serum levels played a protective role against CAD, even in the presence of other risk factors. Therefore, bilirubin level can be used as a predictor of CAD in the future.

SBRT is a standard of care treatment for localized prostate cancer. Clinical trials have shown excellent biochemical control in patients who are treated with conventional radiation with a concomitant IPB. Dose escalation to the whole gland may lead to unacceptable toxicity, however the role of IPB to a dominant nodule using SBRT is yet to be determined. In this report, we describe urethral and bladder dosimetric parameters for patients receiving SBRT with IPB and compare them to a cohort of patients treated without IPB. From October 2018 to June 2023, 443 patients were treated with a robotic SBRT platform to the whole gland with fiducial tracking with IPB (cohort A). Nodules were delineated using diagnostic and treatment planning MRI. Patients received the standard dose of 36.25Gy to the prostate and proximal seminal vesicles with isotropic expansion margin of 5mm, except posteriorly towards the rectum (PTV) and 40 Gy to GTV. Urethra was delineated using contrast-enhanced suprapubic urethrogram. Institutional dose constraints were utilized for evaluation of treatment plans. For the comparison cohort (cohort B), 97 patients treated with the same parameters without IPB, from February 2021 to August 2022, were used. Dosimetric data was retrospectively extracted from the treatment planning software and compared between the two cohorts. Using a programming environment, Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to test the hypothesis of an increase in median value from cohort B to cohort A. In cohort A, all patients had at least one nodule, while 70 had two, and 13 had three or more, for a total 540 nodules with a median volume of 0.73cc (0.05cc-10.1cc) and median D90% of 42.8 Gy. Prostate volume medians and ranges for cohorts A and B were 32.9cc (12.0cc-142.2cc) and 46.4cc (18.7cc - 122.8cc), respectively. Median values of dosimetric parameters are summarized in the accompanying table. No statistically significant increase in median doses from B to A were observed. When comparing nodule size and urethral dose for cohort A, no correlation was found between intra-prostatic nodule size and urethral D0.03cc (R-value = 0.08). SBRT is a safe and effective standard of care for localized prostate cancer, however questions remain regarding the role of dose escalation with extreme hypofractionation. Here we report on a large cohort of patients treated with IPB with strict adherence to institutional dose constraints. When comparing key dosimetric parameters, receiving IPB did not lead to higher doses to the urethra and bladder. Long-term follow-up and randomized protocols are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SBRT is a standard of care treatment for localized prostate cancer. Dose escalation improves outcomes for prostate cancer and concomitant intraprostatic boost (IPB) may offer an acceptable approach for dose escalation while maintaining tolerable dose to organs at risk. In this series, we report changes in IPSS score over a 12-month period following SBRT with IPB in patients treated in at a single academic institution with routine collection of pre- and post-treatment IPSS surveys. Eighty-one patients treated from October 2018 to March 2022 received robotic stereotactic body radiotherapy with fiducial tracking and completed IPSS questionnaires. IPSS scores were evaluated for patients at three time points: pre-treatment, post-treatment, defined as 3 months after SBRT completion, and at follow-up, defined as within 12 months after SBRT completion. Patients who experienced minimally important difference (MID) in their post-treatment IPSS score comprised cohort A and those who did not comprised cohort B. Critical urethral and bladder doses were retrospectively extracted from the treatment planning software. Using a programming environment, two sided, two-sample t-tests were performed to compare dosimetric parameters between the two cohorts. Of the 81 total patients, 47 experienced MID. For cohort A, IPSS score medians and ranges were 8 (0-29), 6 (1-19), and 6.5 (0-31) for pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at 12-month follow-up, respectively. For cohort B, the medians and ranges were 5 (0-21), 12 (5-28), and 8.5 (1-32), respectively. A summary of median dosimetric parameters for each cohort is shown in the accompanying table. Max dose to (D0.03cc) to bladder was the only statistically different dosimetric parameter between the cohorts. IPB is well tolerated with minimal change in urinary quality of life metrics as measured by IPSS. Max dose to the bladder remains the only significant difference in patients who experienced MID in their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Left atrium longitudinal strain (LAS) with speckle tracking method has been proposed as a non-invasive method for the assessment of left ventricular filling pressure and diastolic dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate left atrial strain compared to invasively measured left ventricular filling pressure. All Patients candidates for coronary angiography were consecutively recruited. LAS measured by transthoracic echocardiography. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) pressure was invasively measured. Current echocardiographic modalities for diastolic function evaluated. A total of 125 people were included. 45 patients had preserved ejection fraction (EF ≥ 50%) and 85 patients had reduced EF (EF < 50%) and compared two groups. LVEDP was significantly higher in reduced EF compared to preserved EF (p-value < 0.001). LA-reservoir and LA-booster strains were significantly lower in patients with reduced EF compared to preserved EF (p-value = 0.008, mean Reservoir = 16.4% ± 6.4, mean Reservoir = 19.5% ± 5.6, respectively) and (p-value = 0.009, mean Booster = 9.09% ± 4.0, mean Booster =11. 9% ± 4.3, respectively). LA 4ch-reservoir strain <14.4%, and LA 2ch-reservoir strain <14.1% were related to LVEDP≥20 mmHg (sensitivity 63.5% and specificity 75%) (sensitivity 77.9% and specificity of 60%) respectively. LAS is significantly lower in patients with elevated LVEDP (≥ 20mmHg). LAS is significantly lower in patients with reduced EF. Both LA-reservoir and LA-booster strains have a significant relation to predicting LVFP but LA-reservoir strain is more accurate. The mean LA-reservoir strain less than 12.4% is associated with LVEDP ≥ 20mmHg., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)