THE AMELIORATION OF THE MUSCAT D´ADDA VARIETY THROUGH CLONE SELECTION

During the period 1983 – 1999, at INCDBH Stefanesti, the elite Mt. d´Adda 22 St. was selected and grown in contestplantations in order to be destined to the fresh grapevine consumption The identification of the biotypes(clones)having superior quality and production characteristics which manifest constantly, has been achieved through the studyof the elites chosen in comparative fields, using the method of repeated determinations in groups of years, underspecific vineyard conditions. Through repeated verification of the elites in the contest plots the elite Mt. d´Adda 22 St.stood out by superior quality, constant and sustained production of grapevines and the maintenance of the qualitycharacters. The elite was omologated in 2009. There had been identified and studied the clone elites which maintainedtheir productivity and quality characteristics during 2-3 years, which subsequently had been put to vegetativepropagation with a view to obtain the initial grafting material according to the intensive amelioration schemes

West Nile virus lineage 2 in Romania, 2015–2016: co-circulation and strain replacement

Abstract Background West Nile virus (WNV) is endemic in southeastern Romania and, after the unprecedented urban epidemic in Bucharest in 1996 caused by lineage 1 WNV, cases of West Nile fever have been recorded every year. Furthermore, a new outbreak occurred in 2010, this time produced by a lineage 2 WNV belonging to the Eastern European clade (Volgograd 2007-like strain), which was detected in humans and mosquitoes in the following years. Results We report here, for the first time, the emergence, in 2015, of lineage 2 WNV belonging to the monophyletic Central/Southern European group of strains which replaced in 2016, the previously endemized lineage 2 WNV Volgograd 2007-like strain in mosquito populations. The emerged WNV strain harbors H249P (NS3 protein) and I159T (E glycoprotein) substitutions, which have been previously associated in other studies with neurovirulence and efficient vector transmission. Conclusions In 2016, both early amplification of the emerged WNV and complete replacement in mosquito populations of the previously endemized WNV occurred in southeastern Romania. These events were associated with a significant outbreak of severe West Nile neuroinvasive disease in humans

Obstructing Sleep Apnea in Children with Genetic Disorders—A Special Need for Early Multidisciplinary Diagnosis and Treatment

Background—Children with genetic disorders have multiple anatomical and physiological conditions that predispose them to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). They should have priority access to polysomnography (PSG) before establishing their therapeutic protocol. We analyzed the prevalence and the severity of OSAS in a particular group of children with genetic disorders and strengthened their need for a multidisciplinary diagnosis and adapted management. Methods—The retrospective analysis included children with genetic impairments and sleep disturbances that were referred for polysomnography. We collected respiratory parameters from sleep studies: apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), SatO2 nadir, end-tidal CO2, and transcutaneous CO2. Subsequent management included non-invasive ventilation (NIV) or otorhinolaryngological (ENT) surgery of the upper airway. Results—We identified 108 patients with neuromuscular disorders or multiple congenital anomalies. OSAS was present in 87 patients (80.5%), 3 of whom received CPAP, 32 needed another form of NIV during sleep, and 15 patients were referred for ENT surgery. The post-therapeutic follow-up PSG parameters confirmed the success of the treatment. Conclusions—The upper airway obstruction diagnostics and management for children with complex genetic diseases need a multidisciplinary approach. Early detection and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing in children with genetic disorders is a priority for improving their quality of life