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Plants rely on solar energy for growth through photosynthesis, yet excessive light intensity can induce physiological damage. Despite the considerable harm, inadequate attention has been directed toward understanding how plant-associated microorganisms mitigate this stress, and the impact of high light intensity on plant microbial communities remains underexplored. Through this Viewpoint, we aim to highlight the potential of microbial communities to enhance plant resilience and understand how light stress can shape plant microbiome. A full understanding of these dynamics is essential to design strategies that take advantage of microbial assistance to plants under light stress and to effectively manage the impact of changing light conditions on plant-microbe interactions., (© 2024 The Author(s). New Phytologist © 2024 New Phytologist Foundation.)

Introduction: Infections represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). In Latin America, data on infectious complications in newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) patients are limited., Methods: We conducted a multicenter, prospective cohort study of patients with NDMM in Uruguay between June 2019 and December 2020. Patients with active disease, on active therapy and who provided written informed consent were included. Elegible patients were followed for 6 months from the time of diagnosis and before proceeding to autologous stem cell transplantation or until death, whichever occurred first. Our primary endpoint was the number of infectious events that required hospitalization for ≥ 24 h., Main Results: Of 124 patients with NDMM, 54 (43.5 %) had infectious complications (74 infectious events), the majority (74.3 %) within the first 3 months from diagnosis. The most common sites of infection were urinary (39.2 %) and respiratory tracts (33.8 %). The microbial agent was identified in 60.8 % of patients with Gram-negative bacteria (71.4 %) as the most common pathogen. Viral and fungal infections were infrequent. In the multivariable analysis, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status was ≥ 2 (odds ratio [OR], 2.16; 95 % confidence interval [95 %CI], 1.23 - 3.79; p = 0.008) and creatinine ≥ 2 mg/dl (OR, 2.33; 95 %CI, 1.33 - 4.07; p = 0.003) were independent factors associated with bacterial infections. At 6 months, 14 patients (11.3 %) had died, 50 % related to infectious complications., Conclusion: Bacterial infections are a substantial cause of hospital admissions and early death in patients with NDMM. Antibiotic prophylaxis should be considered to reduce infectious complications in patients with MM., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no competing financial interests., (Copyright © 2023 Associação Brasileira de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Plants are an inexhaustible source of bioactive compounds beneficial for contrasting oxidative stress, leading to many degenerative pathologies. Brassica rapa L. subsp. rapa is well known for its nutraceutical properties among edible vegetable species. In our work, we aimed to explore an eco-friendly way to enhance the beneficial dietary phytochemicals in this vast world of crop-growing plants at selected light quality conditions. White broad-spectrum (W) and red-blue (RB) light regimes were used for growing brassica microgreens. The organic extracts were tested on keratinocytes upon oxidative stress to explore their capability to act as natural antioxidant cell protectors. Our results show that both W and RB extracts caused a notable reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels induced by H 2 O 2 . Interestingly, according to its higher contents of polyphenols and flavonoids, the RB was more efficient in reducing ROS amount and DNA damage than the W extract, particularly at the lowest concentration tested. However, at higher concentrations (up to 100 μg/mL), the antioxidant effect reached a plateau, and there was little added benefit. These findings confirm that RB light effectively increases the antioxidant compounds in Brassica rapa L. microgreens, thus contributing to their enhanced activity against oxidative-induced genotoxicity compared to microgreens grown under W light.

Purpose: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a highly heterogeneous, incurable disease most frequently diagnosed in the elderly. Therefore, data on clinical characteristics and outcomes in the very young population are scarce., Patients and Methods: We analyzed clinical characteristics, response to treatment, and survival in 103 patients with newly diagnosed MM age 40 years or younger compared with 256 patients age 41-50 years and 957 patients age 51 years or older., Results: There were no statistical differences in sex, isotype, International Scoring System, renal involvement, hypercalcemia, anemia, dialysis, bony lesions, extramedullary disease, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The most used regimen in young patients was cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, dexamethasone, followed by cyclophosphamide, thalidomide, dexamethasone and bortezomib, thalidomide, dexamethasone. Of the patients age 40 years or younger, only 53% received autologous stem-cell transplant (ASCT) and 71.1% received maintenance. There were no differences in overall survival (OS) in the three patient cohorts. In the multivariate analysis, only high LDH, high cytogenetic risk, and ASCT were statistically associated with survival., Conclusion: In conclusion, younger patients with MM in Latin America have similar clinical characteristics, responses, and OS compared with the elderly.

Introduction: Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is the standard consolidation option for transplant-eligible patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The aim of this study is to report the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) outcomes after frontline ASCT in newly-diagnosed MM (NDMM) patients in a real-world setting., Methods: We conducted a retrospective, survival analysis of all NDMM patients included in the MM Uruguayan Registry., Results: We included 151 NDMM patients treated with induction therapy followed by high-dose melphalan and ASCT as consolidation. The median age at diagnosis was 59 years, and the international staging system (ISS) risk groups were ISS-III 32.9%, ISS-II 37.8%, and ISS-I 29.4%. Frontline induction regimens included bortezomib in 61.6% of cases, and maintenance therapy was used in 63.9% of reported cases. With a median follow-up of 42 months, the 36-month OS and PFS for the whole group were 82.4% (95% CI 75.9% to 89.4%) and 63.8% (95% CI 55.6% to 73.3%), respectively, median OS of 98 months and median PFS of 47 months. The 100-month OS and PFS for the entire group were 48.0% (95% CI 34.9% to 66.0%) and 17.3% (95% CI 8.4% to 35.8%), respectively., Conclusion: ASCT is a feasible, safe, and potent strategy that provides a prolonged median OS and PFS in NDMM patients. This approach can be implemented in low-income countries.

Digital ischemia is associated with atherosclerotic, thromboembolic, or connective tissue diseases. Less often, it can be related to malignancy. Paraneoplastic vascular acrosyndromes (Raynaud's syndrome, acrocianosis, and acronecrosis) are associated with adenocarcinoma and less frequently with hematological malignancies. We report the case of a 45-year-old male, smoker, with a 10-day history of pain, cyanosis, and progressive digital necrosis in both hands. In the previous four months, he noticed painless mass in the right axillary gap, drenching night sweats, and weight loss. Physical examination at admission highlighted necrotic lesions on the distal phalanges of both hands (except the thumbs), enlarged lymph nodes in right axillary, and right supraclavicular gaps. Arteriography of upper limbs demonstrated a distal stop in all bilateral digital arteries. Digital ischemia was interpreted as a paraneoplastic phenomenon after other common etiologies were ruled out. Amputation of three phalanges was required due to necrosis. Biopsy of axillary nodes demonstrated nodular sclerosis classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). The patient started conventional ABVD protocol (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine). After 6 cycles, he remained asymptomatic and symptoms of digital ischemia were completely resolved. It was concluded that the presence of acral vascular syndromes should alert the physician about the possibility of underlying malignant disease. Prompt investigation and treatment should be rapidly performed to avoid digital sequelae.