Variations in the Molecular and Physiological Characteristics and the Virulence of Monilinia fructicola, M. fructigena and M. laxa Isolates

Twenty-three Monilinia isolates of various origin were identified and compared by morphological means and by biomolecular protocols based on random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, and on PCR detection by species-specific primer pairs. The identification of most Monilinia isolates by PCR and RAPD confirmed the identification by morphological criteria, although two isolates initially identified as M. fructigena by morphological means were attributed to M. fructicola by the biomolecular techniques. Monilinia isolates were also compared in terms of their in vitro pectolytic activity and isoenzyme patterns. All the isolates produced polygalacturonase and pectin methylesterase, but pectin lyase activity was found only in M. fructicola and M. fructigena, and not in most M. laxa isolates. The Monilinia isolates differed significantly in their isoenzyme patterns. Based on RAPD-PCR and PCR amplification and pectolytic isoenzymes, the isolates analysed clustered in three major groups, each corresponding to a Monilinia species. Artificial inoculations in peach and pear fruits revealed differences in virulence between the Monilinia species and within isolates. No correlation was found between the amount of pectolytic enzymes produced in vitro and virulence. Variations between and within the Monilinia species may depend at the physiological level on variations in the isoenzyme patterns of the pectolytic enzymes

A multicenter study on the appropriateness of hospitalization in obstetric wards: application of Obstetric Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (Obstetric AEP)

The cross-sectional study has been based on the implementation of the Obstetric Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (OAEP) in seven hospitals to determine inappropriate hospital admissions and days of stay. The outcomes were: inappropriateness of admission and "percentage of inappropriateness" for one hospitalization. A total number of 2196 clinical records were reviewed. The mean percentage of inappropriateness for hospitalization was 22%. The percentage of inappropriateness for the first 10 d of hospitalization peaked in correspondence of the fourth (42%). The logistic regression model on inappropriated admission reported that emergency admission was a protective factor (OR = 0.4) and to be hospitalized in wards with 6530 beds risk factor (OR = 5.12). The second linear model on "percentage of inappropriateness" showed that inappropriated admission and wards with 6530 beds increased the percentage (p < 0.001); whereas the admission in Teaching Hospitals was inversely associated (p < 0.001). The present study suggests that the percentage of inappropriate admission depends especially on the inappropriate admission and the large number of beds in obstetric wards. This probably indicates that management of big hospitals, which is very complex, needs improving the processes of support and coordination of health professionals. The OAEP tool seems to be an useful instrument for the decision-makers to monitor and manage the obstetric wards. \ua9 2014 Informa UK Ltd. All rights reserved

Antimicrobial Nanoplexes meet Model Bacterial Membranes: the key role of Cardiolipin

Antimicrobial resistance to traditional antibiotics is a crucial challenge of medical research. Oligonucleotide therapeutics, such as antisense or Transcription Factor Decoys (TFDs), have the potential to circumvent current resistance mechanisms by acting on novel targets. However, their full translation into clinical application requires efficient delivery strategies and fundamental comprehension of their interaction with target bacterial cells. To address these points, we employed a novel cationic bolaamphiphile that binds TFDs with high affinity to form self-assembled complexes (nanoplexes). Confocal microscopy revealed that nanoplexes efficiently transfect bacterial cells, consistently with biological efficacy on animal models. To understand the factors affecting the delivery process, liposomes with varying compositions, taken as model synthetic bilayers, were challenged with nanoplexes and investigated with Scattering and Fluorescence techniques. Thanks to the combination of results on bacteria and synthetic membrane models we demonstrate for the first time that the prokaryotic-enriched anionic lipid Cardiolipin (CL) plays a key-role in the TFDs delivery to bacteria. Moreover, we can hypothesize an overall TFD delivery mechanism, where bacterial membrane reorganization with permeability increase and release of the TFD from the nanoplexes are the main factors. These results will be of great benefit to boost the development of oligonucleotides-based antimicrobials of superior efficacy

Sleep duration and the risk of breast cancer: the Ohsaki Cohort Study

In a prospective study of 23 995 Japanese women, short sleep duration was associated with higher risk of breast cancer (143 cases), compared with women who slept 7 h per day, the multivariate hazard ratio of those who slept ⩽6 h per day was 1.62 (95% confidence interval: 1.05–2.50; P for trend=0.03)

Association of kidney disease measures with risk of renal function worsening in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background: Albuminuria has been classically considered a marker of kidney damage progression in diabetic patients and it is routinely assessed to monitor kidney function. However, the role of a mild GFR reduction on the development of stage 653 CKD has been less explored in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of kidney disease measures, namely albuminuria and reduced GFR, on the development of stage 653 CKD in a large cohort of patients affected by T1DM. Methods: A total of 4284 patients affected by T1DM followed-up at 76 diabetes centers participating to the Italian Association of Clinical Diabetologists (Associazione Medici Diabetologi, AMD) initiative constitutes the study population. Urinary albumin excretion (ACR) and estimated GFR (eGFR) were retrieved and analyzed. The incidence of stage 653 CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or eGFR reduction > 30% from baseline was evaluated. Results: The mean estimated GFR was 98 \ub1 17 mL/min/1.73m2 and the proportion of patients with albuminuria was 15.3% (n = 654) at baseline. About 8% (n = 337) of patients developed one of the two renal endpoints during the 4-year follow-up period. Age, albuminuria (micro or macro) and baseline eGFR < 90 ml/min/m2 were independent risk factors for stage 653 CKD and renal function worsening. When compared to patients with eGFR > 90 ml/min/1.73m2 and normoalbuminuria, those with albuminuria at baseline had a 1.69 greater risk of reaching stage 3 CKD, while patients with mild eGFR reduction (i.e. eGFR between 90 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) show a 3.81 greater risk that rose to 8.24 for those patients with albuminuria and mild eGFR reduction at baseline. Conclusions: Albuminuria and eGFR reduction represent independent risk factors for incident stage 653 CKD in T1DM patients. The simultaneous occurrence of reduced eGFR and albuminuria have a synergistic effect on renal function worsening

A model for interfaces and its mesoscopic limit

We study a system of N layers with a Kac horizontal interaction of parameter γ > 0 and a Kac vertical interaction of parameter γ 1/2. We shall prove that the limit free energy functional is the rate function of the large deviations of the Gibbs measure (of a canonical constrained magnetization). The limit free energy functional is achieved as a Γ-limit for γ →0 for magnetizations with fixed average. Among all such magnetizations there exists a quasiconstant magnetization that minimizes the energy

Use of the GnRH-agonist (GnRH-A) in gynaecology.

GnRH-agonist therapy is used in the management of many gynaecological pathologies: uterine fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian cystic pathology, breast cancer, dysfunctional uterine bleeding and, in males, prostatic cancer. In the case of uterine fibroids, this therapy can be used as a pre-treatment before conservative or demolitive surgery or as an alternative to hysterectomy. At the Centre for Therapy of Uterine Pathologies (I Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Rome "La Sapienza") the use of Gn-RH-A therapy in uterine fibroids has been investigated and results consistent with those of many other groups of study have been obtained. The two most important results are: 1. the decrease of both the myoma's size and the uterine volume; 2. the block of menometrorrhagiae symptoms, with improvement of the haematic crasis and possibility to convert a demolitive surgery to a conservative surgery. GnRH-agonists can represent a definitive treatment for patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids and in perimenopausal age

The impact of the Factor V Leiden mutation on pregnancy

A resistance to the anticoagulant activity of activated protein C (APC), most frequently due to a point mutation in the Factor V gene (the Leiden mutation), represents the most common genetic cause of thrombophilia, The Leiden mutation has been significantly related to pregnancy complications associated with hypercoagulation, e.g. deep vein thrombosis during pregnancy (8-fold increased risk), pre-eclampsia (prevalence of the mutation up to 26%), placental infarction extending to >10% of the placenta (10-fold increased risk), abruptio placentae (prevalence of the mutation up to 29.6%), and second- and third-trimester pregnancy failure (prevalence of the mutation up to 31.3%), An association of the maternal mutation with recurrent first-trimester miscarriage does not emerge from the literature, although fetal mutation (frequency higher than twice compared with that of the general population) has been related to early spontaneous miscarriage. Although some evidence suggests an association between APC resistance and intrauterine growth retardation, no significant relationship emerges currently from the literature. Screening for the Leiden mutation would seem advisable in women with previous pregnancy complications amongst those associated with APC resistance. Carriers of the mutation should be given appropriate counselling. The screening of asymptomatic women is not recommended at present