360 research outputs found
Detection and identification of phytoplasmas in two vineyards located in a restricted geographic area in Italy
A survey to verify the presence of grapevine yellows was carried out in a restricted area of the Marche region (central east Italy) in a small geographic area. In two locations six grapevine varieties were examined and phytoplasmas belonging to four ribosomal groups were detected by PCR/RFLP analyses. The surveyed varieties were Passerina, Pecorino, Merlot, Sangiovese, Fedit and Montepulciano. The different phytoplasmas detected were present in a scattered manner in all the varieties, but only Passerina, Pecorino and Sangiovese where shown to be infected by âbois noirâ (16SrXII-A) phytoplasmas. Considering the landscape shape and the age of the vineyards the source of BN infection and of the other phytoplasmas is very likely in the surrounding environment or vineyards
Wernicke encephalopathy caused by avoidance-restrictive food intake disorder in a child: a case-based review
Background: Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) is an acute and potentially fatal neuropsychiatric disorder resulting from thiamine deficiency: its etiology and clinical presentation can be heterogeneous and arduously recognized, especially in children and adolescents. Case presentation: An 8-year-old girl arrived to the emergency room with ataxic gait, nystagmus, and mental confusion after a 10-day history of repeated severe vomiting; her recent clinical history was characterized by restricted nutrition due to a choking phobia, which caused substantial weight loss. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a bilaterally increased T2 signal in the medial areas of the thalami and cerebral periaqueductal region. Diagnosis of WE based on clinical and neuroradiological findings was established and confirmed after labwork showing low serum thiamine. Following psychiatric evaluation, the patient was also diagnosed with avoidance-restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), which required starting cognitive behavioral therapy and introducing aripiprazole. The patient displayed improvement of the radiological findings after one month and complete resolution of her neurological symptoms and signs. Conclusions: Eating disorders like ARFID might forerun acute signs of WE; this possibility should be considered even in pediatric patients, especially when atypical neurological pictures or feeding issues come out
Prediction of Renal Acid Load in Adult Patients on Parenteral Nutrition
Metabolic acidosis and metabolic bone disease are frequent complications in patients on
parenteral nutrition (PN). A common contributor to these complications could be a daily high renal
acid load. This study aims to find a method for predicting the potential total acid load (PTAL) and
the pH of the compounded parenteral nutrition mixtures. The pH and titratable acidity (TA) of fifty
compounded mixtures were measured. The potential metabolic acid load (PMAL) was calculated
by considering the amount of nutrients that are acid producers and consumers. The PTAL of the
TPN mixtures was calculated by adding TA to PMAL. Multiple linear regression analyses were used
to develop a predictive model for the TA and pH of the compounded mixtures. The predicted TA
and pH values of the analyzed mixtures agreed with those measured (Passing-Bablok analysis).
The PTAL was >50 mmol/day for 82% of the mixtures, >75 mmol/day for 40% of the mixtures, and
>100 mmol/day for 22% of the mixtures. The prediction of the renal acid load in patients on long-term
PN could allow more appropriate acid-base balancing. Moreover, predicting the pH of such mixtures
could be useful to pharmacists to assess the stability and compatibility of the components in the
compounded mixtures
Survey for âCandidatus Liberibacterâ and âCandidatus Phytoplasmaâ in Citrus in Chile
The considerable economic losses in citrus associated with âCandidatus Liberibacterâ and âCandidatus Phytoplasmaâ presence have alerted all producing regions of the world. In Chile, none of these bacteria have been reported in citrus species. During the years 2017 and 2019, 258 samples presenting symptoms similar to those associated with the presence of these bacteria were examined. No detection of âCa. Liberibacterâ associated with âhuanglongbingâ disease was obtained in the tested samples; therefore, this quarantine pest is maintained as absent in Chile. However, 14 plants resulted positive for phytoplasmas enclosed in subgroups 16SrV-A (12 plants) and 16SrXIII-F (2 plants). Although they have been found in other plant species, this is the first report of these phy-toplasmas in citrus worldwide
Six novel mutations in the proopiomelanocortin and melanocortin receptor 4 genes in severely obese adults living in southern Italy.
BACKGROUND: The genetic characterization of obese individuals could clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying body weight regulation and lead to targeted therapy. Here we report variants of the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R) genes detected in severely obese adults living in southern Italy.
METHODS: A total of 196 unrelated nondiabetic severely obese individuals [111 females and 85 males; mean (SD) age, 32.2 (11.5) years; mean body mass index, 48.8 (8.1) kg/m(2)] and 100 normal-weight healthy volunteers (34 males and 66 females) entered the study. POMC and MC4R were genotyped by sequencing analysis. Leptin, insulin, glucose, and the lipid profile were measured in fasting serum samples. We used the protein truncation test to verify the stop-codon mutation. Anthropometric measurements, sitting blood pressure, and heart rate were also recorded.
RESULTS: Of the obese participants, 1.5% had mutations in POMC exon 3 (new mutations, P231L and E244X; known, R236G) and 2.5% had MC4R mutations (new mutations, W174C, Q43X, S19fsX51, and I317V; known, A175T). These mutations were not present in the controls. Gene polymorphisms were identified in similar percentages of severely obese and nonobese individuals, i.e., respectively, 52.5% and 51% (POMC) and 1% and 2% (MC4R).
CONCLUSIONS: We detected 2 new POMC mutations and 4 new MC4R mutations in a large number of severely obese adults living in southern Italy. These mutations, not present in normal-weight individuals, are further evidence that defects in the melanocortin pathway are related to severe obesity
The USe of pac1 Gene from Schizosaccaromyces pombe to Protect Potato from Potato virus Y (PVY) and Potato X (PVX) Infections
The effect that pac1, a yeast-derived ds-RNA specific RNase gene, has on Potato virus X (PVX) and on
Potato virus Y (PVY) infections in potato was investigated. Tuber disks of cv. Desirée were transformed with LB4404
Agrobacterium tumefaciens carrying a modified PBI121 binary vector in which the transgene replaced GUS. Transformed
plantlets were tested for possible acquired resistance by inoculation with purified virus suspensions at different
concentrations and were ELISA-tested for virus content 40 days later. Plants of two clones had a significantly
lower PVX content (66 to 75% that of the control, respectively), when inoculated with a 1 ”g ml-1 suspension of the
virus. One of these clones showed also a reduced PVY accumulation (41% that of the control), when inoculated with
a 10 ”g ml-1 suspension of this virus. Results demonstrated the practical utility of the pac1 gene for countering potato
virus infections
Variants of uncoupling protein-2 gene and obesity: interaction with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorgamma2.
Diverse phytoplasmas associated with maize bushy stunt disease in Peru
Corn plants showing symptoms of midribs
chlorosis, and leaf reddening, short internodes, ear pro-
liferation, and plant growth reduction were collected in
Peru from fields in nine localities in the provinces of
Huancayo, Chupaca, and Jauja in the JunĂn region, and
tested to verify phytoplasma presence and identity.
Primers amplifying the phytoplasma ribosomal 16S
and ribosomal protein genes were used. The phytoplas-
ma presence was detected in symptomatic samples from
all the surveyed areas. The sequencing of the obtained
amplicons indicated the presence of âCandidatus Phy-
toplasma asterisâ and âCa. P. pruniâ-related strains. A
BLASTn search of sequenced genes showed that the
two âCandidatus Phytoplasmaâ strains identified in corn
shares 100% and 99.82% identity with the âCa. P.
asterisâ strains from maize and 99.92% and 99.55%
with âCa. P. pruniâ-related strains, respectively. The
RFLP analyses allowed to enclose these phytoplasma
strains in the 16SrI-B and 16SrIII-J subgroups; howev-
er, the two phytoplasmas were, in some cases, present in
mixed infection. The 16SrIII-J phytoplasma is for the
first time reported associated with the maize bushy stunt
disease and this represent a relevant information for the
disease epidemiology towards its appropriate manage-
ment in the affected area
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