Absent cardiac and muscle sympathetic nerve activities involvement in Ross syndrome: A follow-up study

Purpose Ross syndrome (RS) is characterized by selective involvement of post-ganglionic skin sympathetic nerve fibres. We report a follow-up study in 4 patients to clarify whether in RS autonomic dysfunction spreads affecting also cardiovascular system. Methods The patients underwent cardiovascular reflexes (CVR) and microneurography recording of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) for a follow-up mean period of 5 years. Results CVR and MSNA were normal at baseline and unchanged over the follow-up. Conclusions Cardiovascular autonomic system is spared in RS differently from skin autonomic activity dysfunction which progress over time. However, before drawing any definite conclusion, a large cohort of patients needs to be studied

Proteomic analysis highlights the role of detoxification pathways in increased tolerance to Huanglongbing disease

Background Huanglongbing (HLB) disease is still the greatest threat to citriculture worldwide. Although there is not any resistance source in the Citrus germplasm, a certain level of moderated tolerance is present. A large-scale analysis of proteomic responses of Citrus may help: 1) clarifying physiological and molecular effects of disease progression, 2) validating previous data at transcriptomic level, and 3) identifying biomarkers for development of early diagnostics, short-term therapeutics and long-term genetic resistance. Results In this work we have conducted a proteomic analysis of mature leaves of two Citrus genotypes with well-known differing tolerances to HLB: Navel orange (highly susceptible) and Volkameriana (moderately tolerant). Pathway enrichment analysis showed that amino acid degradation processes occurred to a larger degree in the Navel orange. No clear differences between the two genotypes were observed for primary metabolic pathways. The most important finding was that four glutathione-S-transferases were upregulated in Volkameriana and not in Navel orange. These proteins are involved in radical ion detoxification. Conclusions Upregulation of proteins involved in radical ion detoxification should be considered as an important mechanism of increased tolerance to HLB

Identification of microRNAS differentially regulated by water deficit in relation to mycorrhizal treatment in wheat

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are soil microrganisms that establish symbiosis with plants positively influencing their resistance to abiotic stresses. The aim of this work was to identify wheat miRNAs differentially regulated by water deficit conditions in presence or absence of AMF treatment. Small RNA libraries were constructed for both leaf and root tissues considering four conditions: control (irrigated) or water deficit in presence/absence of mycorrhizal (AMF) treatment. A total of 12 miRNAs were significantly regulated by water deficit in leaves: five in absence and seven in presence of AMF treatment. In roots, three miRNAs were water deficit-modulated in absence of mycorrhizal treatment while six were regulated in presence of it. The most represented miRNA family was miR167 that was regulated by water deficit in both leaf and root tissues. Interestingly, miR827-5p was differentially regulated in leaves in the absence of mycorrhizal treatment while it was water deficit-modulated in roots irrespective of AMF treatment. In roots, water deficit repressed miR827-5p, miR394, miR6187, miR167e-3p, and miR9666b-3p affecting transcription, RNA synthesis, protein synthesis, and protein modifications. In leaves, mycorrhizae modulated miR5384-3p and miR156e-3p affecting trafficking and cell redox homeostasis. DNA replication and transcription regulation should be targeted by the repression of miR1432-5p and miR166h-3p. This work provided interesting insights into the post-transcriptional mechanisms of wheat responses to water deficit in relation to mycorrhizal symbiosis

A microarray analysis highlights the role of tetrapyrrole pathways in grapevine responses to "stolbur" phytoplasma, phloem virus infections and recovered status.

After providing a picture of the global transcriptomic changes of grapevine responses to \u201cstolbur\u201d phytoplasma, the recovery status and molecular responses to the phytoplasma and virus co-presence were analyzed. NimbleGen\uae Vitis vinifera genome arrays were used. Lower transcript abundance of the genes involved in photosynthesis, trehalose, phospholipids was observed in response to the presence of \u201cstolbur\u201d phytoplasma. The expression of the genes involved in tetrapyrrole increased. The recovered plants showed that the transcripts involved in ATP synthesis and amino acid metabolism, secondary metabolism and biotic stress-related pathways increased. Recovery was associated with tetrapyrrole pathway repression. Co-infection with viruses induced the genes involved in the hormone categories (cytokinin, gibberellin, salicylic acid and jasmonates)

CCK-8S SYSTEMIC ADMINISTRATION BLOCKS THE 7-NITROINDAZOLE-INDUCED EFFECTS ON THE EEG OF STRIATUM AND GLOBUS PALLIDUS: A FFT ANALYSIS IN THE RAT

Nitric oxide (NO) and cholecystokinin (CCK) are involved in the modulation of several neurotransmitter systems in the basal ganglia, and a functional interaction between their modulatory effects could be hypothesised. Materials and Methods: We studied the effects exerted by the administration of 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) (50 mg kg-1 i.p.), a selective inhibitor of neuronal NO synthase, on the depth EEG activity of the striatum and of the globus pallidus in both not pre-treated and sulphated CCK octapeptide (CCK- 8S)-treated (100 nM kg-1 i.p.) rats. Striatal and pallidal depth EEG power spectra were examined by means of a Fast Fourier Transform analysis. Results: Striatal depth recordings showed a marked increase of % power of slow standard rhythms after 7-NI systemic treatment. In contrast, pallidal recordings revealed an increase of % power of rapid standard rhythms after i.p. injection of 7-NI. The same modifications were not evidenced in CCK-8S pre-treated rats after 7-NI administration. Conclusion: The results show an influence exerted by peripheral CCK on the nitrergic modulation of the bioelectric activities of the striatum and of the globus pallidus. This effect could be of particular interest in the light of NO and CCK involvement in the neuroprotective mechanisms

Metabolomics suggests that soil inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi decreased free amino acid content in roots of durum wheat grown under N-limited, P-rich field conditions

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have a major impact on plant nutrition, defence against pathogens, a plant's reaction to stressful environments, soil fertility, and a plant's relationship with other microorganisms. Such effects imply a broad reprogramming of the plant's metabolic activity. However, little information is available regarding the role of AMF and their relation to other soil plant growth - promoting microorganisms in the plant metabolome, especially under realistic field conditions. In the present experiment, we evaluated the effects of inoculation with AMF, either alone or in combination with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), on the metabolome and changes in metabolic pathways in the roots of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) grown under N-limited agronomic conditions in a P-rich environment. These two treatments were compared to infection by the natural AMF population (NAT). Soil inoculation with AMF almost doubled wheat root colonization by AMF and decreased the root concentrations of most compounds in all metabolic pathways, especially amino acids (AA) and saturated fatty acids, whereas inoculation with AMF +PGPR increased the concentrations of such compounds compared to inoculation with AMF alone. Enrichment metabolomics analyses showed that AA metabolic pathways were mostly changed by the treatments, with reduced amination activity in roots most likely due to a shift from the biosynthesis of common AA to γ-amino butyric acid. The root metabolome differed between AMF and NAT but not AMF+PGPR and AMF or NAT. Because the PGPR used were potent mineralisers, and AMF can retain most nitrogen (N) taken as organic compounds for their own growth, it is likely that this result was due to an increased concentration of mineral N in soil inoculated with AMF+PGPR compared to AMF alone

Sorgenti carsiche ed erosione chimica nelle Prealpi Venete

La ricerca esamina il chimismo di 19 sorgenti carsiche delle Prealpi Venete, al fine di valutare l'entit\ue0 dell'erosione carsica di tipo "chimico", cio\ue9 il processo morfodinamico di asportazione delle rocce in soluzione chimica. L'erosione \ue8 risultata correlata con la mediana della quota dei bacini idrogeologici e varia da 25 a 70 m3/km2/anno