The Colletotrichum orbiculare species complex: Important pathogens of field crops and weeds

Colletotrichum orbiculare causes anthracnose of Cucurbitaceae and is phylogenetically closely related to pathogens of several other herbaceous hosts belonging to the Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Malvaceae. Most of them are known for their hemibiotrophic infection strategy and as destructive pathogens either of field crops or weeds. In order to study the phylogenetic relationships of these fungi, a multilocus analysis (ITS, GAPDH, CHS-1, HIS3, ACT, TUB2, GS) of 42 strains of C. orbiculare and related species was conducted. The analysis resulted in nine clades that confirmed the four species previously known as belonging to this species complex, C. lindemuthianum, C. malvarum, C. orbiculare and C. trifolii, and recognised four new species from weeds, namely C. bidentis, C. sidae, C. spinosum and C. tebeestii. The name C. orbiculare itself is widely used in plant pathology and science, but is invalid according to current nomenclatural rules. Therefore we described a new species with the same epithet and a type specimen that agrees with our current understanding of this species, and is linked to a living culture. Following the recent epitypification of C. lindemuthianum, we chose appropriate specimens with associated strains to serve as epitypes of C. malvarum and C. trifolii, and selected an authentic specimen of C. trifolii as lectotype.     

Lenalidomide in combination with dexamethasone: effective regimen in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma complicated by renal impairment

Over the past decade, treatment options for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) have improved substantially, resulting in better response rates and prolonged overall survival (OS). Nevertheless, MM remains a challenging disease, especially if renal insufficiency (RI) or extensive pre-treatment aggravates the assignment of the optimal treatment schedule. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the outcome of lenalidomide plus dexamethasone in 167 patients with relapsed or refractory MM with focus on RI. The baseline creatinine clearance (CL_Cr) was normal in 94 patients (CL_Cr ≥ 80 ml/min), while RI was observed in 73 patients, including 40 patients with mild RI (50 ≤ CL_Cr < 80 ml/min) and 33 patients with moderate or severe RI (CL_Cr < 50 ml/min). Response rates declined depending on the severity of RI, being 67% among patients with normal kidney function, 60% among patients with mild RI and 49% among patients with moderate or severe RI. Time to progression (TTP) was significantly reduced in patients with severe RI and in case of >2 previous treatment lines. OS was not significantly different between patients with normal and impaired renal function. In contrast, the number of previous treatment lines (2 vs. <2) and the use of novel agents like bortezomib or thalidomide prior to lenalidomide plus dexamethasone therapy had a more adverse effect on OS. In conclusion, lenalidomide plus dexamethasone is an effective regimen for relapsed or refractory patients with MM complicated by RI with manageable toxicity.     

Measuring female intrasexual competition by the scale for intrasexual competition: a validation of the German version

Competitive behaviour amongst members of the same sex is termed intrasexual competition. The tendency to engage in such competition appears to be strongly related to stable individual characteristics such as personality traits. Additionally, recent studies have revealed transient fluctuations in competitiveness according to the female menstrual cycle. To date, no German questionnaire exists to measure intrasexual competition. Our first study aimed to translate and validate the Intrasexual Competition Scale (ICS) by Buunk and Fisher (J Evol Psychol 7:37–48, 2009) in a population of healthy Swiss females (n = 241). Our second study applied the validated German ICS in a group of healthy, regularly cycling females (n = 49) in order to examine possible associations between the menstrual cycle phase and ICS scores. The psychometric properties suggest that the German ICS is a reliable and valid tool to assess individual differences in female intrasexual competition. Furthermore, our second study demonstrated that on average, women showed higher intrasexual competition scores when tested in the late follicular phase (M = 35.77 ± SD = 12.03) compared to the mid-luteal phase (M = 30.93 ± SD = 10.20). Our studies support previous findings of an association between ICS scores and relatively stable individual characteristics such as personality traits. Furthermore, our research endorses the assumption of cycle-dependent fluctuations in intrasexual competition. Future research should clarify the precise mechanisms underlying these findings and include biomarkers such as oestrogen and testosterone.

     

Successful treatment of malaria tropica with acute renal failure and cerebral involvement by plasmapheresis and hemodialysis

Summary A non-immune, 31-year-old woman developed an acute infection withPlasmodium falciparum after travelling to Kenia. The parasites proved resistant to chloroquine and sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine. The course of the disease was complicated by acute renal failure, hepatocellular damage, disorders of blood coagulation, thrombocytopenia, hemolysis and cerebral involvement. Despite a very high level of parasitemia (50% parasitized erythrocytes) a rapid clinical improvement was achieved by plasmapheresis and hemodialysis. Our experience shows that plasmapheresis and hemodialysis are excellent additive methods which rapidly improve clinical symptoms and may reduce morbidity and mortality in severe malaria tropica.

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Zusammenfassung Eine nicht-immune, 31 jährige Patientin erkrankte nach einem Keniaurlab an Malaria tropica. Die Plasmodien erwiesen sich als resistent gegenüber Chloroquin und Sulfadoxin/Pyrimethamin. Der Krankheitsverlauf war gekennzeichnet durch schwere Organkomplikationen: akutes Nierenversagen, Leberfunktionseinschränkung, Gerinnungsstörung und Thrombozytopenie, Hämolyse und zerebrale Malaria. Durch den Einsatz intensivierter Therapiemaßnahmen, wie Plasmapherese und Hämodialyse konnte trotz weiterbestehender Parasitämie von 50% eine rasche klinische Besserung bis zum Wirksamwerden der Kausaltherapie mit Chinin erreicht werden. Unsere Erfahrung zeigt, daß Plasmapherese und Hämodialyse ausgezeichnete adjuvante Therapieformen zur Verbesserung der klinischen Symptomatik bei schwerer Malaria tropica sind. Durch ihren frühzeitigen Einsatz können sie zur Verminderung der Morbidität und Mortalität bei komplizierter Malaria beitragen.