Genetic and morphological studies of Trichosirocalus species introduced to North America, Australia and New Zealand for the biological control of thistles

Trichosirocalus horridus sensu lato has been used as a biological control agent of several invasive thistles (Carduus spp., Cirsium spp. and Onopordum spp.) since 1974. It has been recognized as a single species until 2002, when it was split into three species based on morphological characters: T. horridus, Trichosirocalus briesei and Trichosirocalus mortadelo, each purported to have different host plants. Because of this taxonomic change, uncertainty exists as to which species were released in various countries; furthermore, there appears to be some exceptions to the purported host plants of some of these species. To resolve these questions, we conducted an integrative taxonomic study of the T. horridus species complex using molecular genetic and morphological analyses of specimens from three continents. Both mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and nuclear elongation factor 1α markers clearly indicate that there are only two distinct species, T. horridus and T. briesei. Molecular evidence, morphological analysis and host plant associations support the synonymy of T. horridus (Panzer, 1801) and T. mortadelo Alonso-Zarazaga & Sánchez-Ruiz, 2002. We determine that T. horridus has been established in Canada, USA, New Zealand and Australia and that T. briesei is established in Australia. The former species was collected from Carduus, Cirsium and Onopordum spp. in the field, whereas the latter appears to be specific to Onopordum

Paternity analyses for the planning of SIT projects against the red palm weevil

The red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is an invasive pest from southeastern Asia and Melanesia that has spread widely across the Middle East and the Mediterranean Basin over the last 30 years. Its endophagous larvae cause huge amounts of damage to several palm tree species from the Arecaceae family. Many of these palms are economically important for agricultural and ornamental purposes. Therefore, a lot of attention has recently been focused on studying this species with the aim of identifying sustainable and effective eradication strategies. Sterile insect techniques are biological control strategies that are currently being investigated for their potential to eradicate this pest in selected invasion areas. Mating system features (e.g., polyandry and related features) can affect the success and suitability of these approaches. The main goal of this research was to assess the performance of a previously developed microsatellite panel in terms of the paternity assignment of progeny from laboratory mating experiments. Using a simulation approach, we evaluated the reliability of the microsatellite markers in the paternity tests both in complex laboratory experiment scenarios and on the progeny of wild-caught gravid females to help future studies on the RPW mating system. As a case study of the simulation results, we performed two double-mating experiments, genotyped the progeny and estimated the P2 values to compare to the expected progeny genotypes according to the crossing scheme of each experiment. The results of our simulations on laboratory experiments showed that it was possible to carry out paternity assignments for all progeny with reliable statistical confidence using our 13 microsatellites set. On the contrary the low genetic variability measured in red palm weevil populations in invaded areas made the resolution power of our loci too low to carry out paternity analyses on natural populations. Results of laboratory crossing were completely congruent with the expectations from the Mendelian laws

In vivo kinematics of knee replacement during daily living activities: Condylar and post-cam contact assessment by three-dimensional fluoroscopy and finite element analyses

In total knee replacement, the investigation on the exact contact patterns at the post-cam in implanted patients from real in vivo data during daily living activities is fundamental for validating implant design concepts and assessing relevant performances. This study is aimed at verifying the restoration of natural tibio-femoral condylar kinematics by investigating the post-cam engagement at different motor tasks. An innovative validated technique, combining three-dimensional fluoroscopic and finite element analyses, was applied to measure joint kinematics during daily living activities in 15 patients implanted with guided motion posterior-stabilized total knee replacement. Motion results showed physiological antero-posterior translations of the tibio-femoral condyles for every motor task. However, high variability was observed in the position of the calculated pivot point among different patients and different motor tasks, as well as in the range of post-cam engagement. Physiological tibio-femoral joint rotations and contacts at the condyles were found restored in the present knee replacement. Articular contact patterns experienced at the post-cam were found compatible with this original prosthesis design. The present study reports replaced knee kinematics also in terms of articular surface contacts, both at the condyles and, for the first time, at the post-cam

Dramatic tumour response to pemetrexed single-agent in an elderly patient with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: a case report

BACKGROUND: To date, there is no standard treatment for unresectable malignant peritoneal mesothelioma; either best supportive care or systemic chemotherapy with palliative intent are accepted options. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we report the case of a 79-year old patient with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma who was treated with pemetrexed single-agent and obtained an impressive long-lasting response. CONCLUSION: Single-agent pemetrexed is a treatment option for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma in selected elderly patients or in patients with unpaired performance status

Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced colorectal cancers at diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all 17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period), in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was 30 days from surgery. EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery, palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery, and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster variable. RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years) underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142 (56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P < .001), and stenotic lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for these patients

Aspetti del sistema nuziale del Punteruolo rosso delle palme (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus): un approccio molecolare e bioinformatico.

Il Punteruolo rosso delle palme, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, Olivier (Curculionoidea, Dryophtoridae), è un coleottero originario del Sud-Est asiatico e della Melanesia invasivo in Medio Oriente ed in quasi tutti i paesi del bacino del Mediterraneo, compresa l'Italia. Il fitofago arreca ingenti danni a numerose specie di Arecaceae, tra cui molte palme di interesse economico. Le attuali azioni di controllo integrato, adottate per contenerne l'espansione, si sono rivelate finora insufficienti anche perché manca una approfondita conoscenza del sistema nuziale dell'insetto, ed il suo grande successo riproduttivo è proprio una delle cause principali del enorme potenziale invasivo di questa specie dannosa. Obiettivo generale del progetto di dottorato è stato dunque lo studio di aspetti del mating system del Punteruolo rosso legati ad eventuali comportamenti poliandrici e fenomeni di selezione sessuale post-copulatoria. Sono stati eseguiti a questo scopo dei test di paternità, per mezzo di analisi genetiche e bioinformatiche, sulla prole di esperimenti di incrocio effettuati in laboratorio, in modo da verificare ipotesi alternative riguardanti il sistema nuziale della specie. Date le scarse informazioni genetiche disponibili su R. ferrugineus, è stato necessario mettere a punto ex novo un pannello di 16 loci microsatelliti polimorfici, tramite un approccio innovativo basato su tecniche di Next Generation Sequencing accoppiate ad analisi bioinformatiche. Attraverso un'analisi preliminare della variabilità genetica di popolazioni provenienti sia dall'areale primario che da quello secondario della specie, sono state individuate aree a maggior diversità genetica reciproca, da utilizzare come sorgenti di campionamento degli individui destinati all'allevamento e agli accoppiamenti controllati. In seguito sono stati quindi condotti in laboratorio due esperimenti di incrocio, nei quali una femmina vergine si è accoppiata spontaneamente con due maschi in successione, ed è stata poi isolata e lasciata libera di ovideporre ad oltranza. La generazione filiale è stata poi allevata e caratterizzata geneticamente insieme a quella parentale per attribuire la paternità a ciascuna larva. I risultati ottenuti, supportati da esperimenti di incrocio con maschi sterilizzati e non, indicano chiaramente la presenza di un fenomeno di selezione sessuale post-copula. Per quanto siano necessari ulteriori studi, sembrerebbe che le femmine della specie, nonostante si accoppino normalmente con più individui, fecondino le uova quasi esclusivamente con il contributo spermatico ricevuto per ultimo. Questo fenomeno è conosciuto come precedenza spermatica dell'ultimo maschio (last male sperm precedence), e potrebbe essere legato a strategie di scelta criptica del partner da parte della femmina o a competizione spermatica tra maschi. La comprensione di questi meccanismi va senza dubbio approfondita, specialmente in vista dell'eventuale progettazione di interventi di controllo biologico mirati ad attaccare il successo riproduttivo della specie, come la Tecnica dell'Insetto Sterile.FARI 2010 prot.C26I10SBMC "Bioinformatica, ecologia molecolare e specie invasive: in silico mining di librerie genomiche da pirosequenziamento 454 per l'individuazione di loci microsatelliti". University Project 2012 prot. C26A12KRHP "Tagged Next Generation Sequencing e in silico mining di polimorfismi nucleotidici (SNP) nello studio delle invasioni biologiche"

L'evoluzione degli studi di Innovation e Operations Management nei servizi

L'evoluzione degli studi di Innovation e Operations Management nei serviz

Rat cytochrome P450c17 gene transcription is initiated at different start sites in extraglandular and glandular tissues

In the male rat, the mRNA of the steroidogenic cytochrome P450c17 is expressed extraglandularly in the stomach, duodenum, kidney and liver, throughout the animal's lifespan, as demonstrated by reverse transcriptase and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis with specific primers. Northern analysis indicated that all tissues, except the kidney, contain high levels of such mRNA, but the relative mobility of liver mRNA is slightly less than that of the testis and other tissues. Thus, we analysed their 5'- and 3'-untranslated terminal regions (UTRs) by means of 5'- and 3'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) techniques. All tissues utilised the same polyadenylation site as the testis. In the 5'-UTR of liver mRNA, however, we found a distal transcription start site (TSS) located 252b upstream of that used in testicular P450c17 mRNA, which is placed 41b upstream of the first ATG. The 5'-UTR sequence of liver P450c17 cDNA exactly matched the contiguous upstream untranslated region of the gene, suggesting that alternative splicing was not involved in the synthesis of liver P450c17 transcript. The other tissues used the same TSS present in the testis. Nevertheless, a second TSS located 125b upstream of the first ATG was found in the stomach and duodenum. These results show that the transcriptional regulation of the CYP17 gene in the rat is complex and differs between tissues in the use of TSSs

Kinetic analysis of duodenal and testicular cytochrome P450c17 in the rat

In the adult rat, the duodenal tissue of both sexes can convert progesterone to 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and testosterone. The transition from C-21 to C-19 steroids is apparently controlled by the same cytochrome P450c17 expressed in the testis, which catalyzes both 17 alpha-hydroxylation and C-17,20 bond scission at a single bifunctional active site. The kinetic parameters of this enzyme were measured at the steady state for both reactions using [1,2-H-3]progesterone and [1,2-H-3]17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone as substrates. In the testis and male and female duodena, the K-m values for progesterone one 17 alpha-hydroxylation were 14.2, 23.8 and 23.2 nM, whereas the V-max values were 105, 3.5 and 3.1 pmol/mg protein/min, respectively. With respect to C-17,20 lyase activity, the K-m values for exogenous 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone were 525, 675 and 637 nM, whereas the V-max values were 283, 7.8 and 7.8 pmol/mg protein/min, respectively. However, when the K-m values were calculated with respect to intermediate 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone formed from progesterone, they were similar to the K-m values for 17 alpha-hydroxylase, being 15, 31.4 and 24.8 nM, whereas the V-max values were 26.3, 2 and 1.8 pmol/mg protein/min, respectively. The similarity of K-m values is due to the fact that the relative androgen formation efficiency (bond scission events/total 17 alpha-hydroxylation events ratio) was remarkably constant in both testicular and duodenal incubates, irrespective of progesterone concentration. Efficiency values were 2-fold higher in duodenal tissue (0.54) than in testis (0.25). Estradiol-17 beta inhibited 17 alpha-hydroxylation but not bond scission on intermediate 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, because it did not affect the efficiency value. Rat duodenal P450c17 has the same substrate affinity, a lower specific activity and a higher androgen formation efficiency than testicular P450c17