Immunohistochemical localization and mRNA expression of aquaporins in the macula utriculi of patients with Meniere’s disease and acoustic neuroma

Meniere’s disease is nearly invariably associated with endolymphatic hydrops (the net accumulation of water in the inner ear endolymphatic space). Vestibular maculae utriculi were acquired from patients undergoing surgery for Meniere’s disease and acoustic neuroma and from autopsy (subjects with normal hearing and balance). Quantitative immunostaining was conducted with antibodies against aquaporins (AQPs) 1, 4, and 6, Na+K+ATPase, Na+K+2Cl co-transporter (NKCC1), and α-syntrophin. mRNA was extracted from the surgically acquired utricles from subjects with Meniere’s disease and acoustic neuroma to conduct quantitative real-time reverse transcription with polymerase chain reaction for AQP1, AQP4, and AQP6. AQP1 immunoreactivity (−IR) was located in blood vessels and fibrocytes in the underlying stroma, without any apparent alteration in Meniere’s specimens when compared with acoustic neuroma and autopsy specimens. AQP4-IR localized to the epithelial basolateral supporting cells in Meniere’s disease, acoustic neuroma, and autopsy. In specimens from subjects with Meniere’s disease, AQP4-IR was significantly decreased compared with autopsy and acoustic neuroma specimens. AQP6-IR occurred in the sub-apical vestibular supporting cells in acoustic neuroma and autopsy samples. However, in Meniere’s disease specimens, AQP6-IR was significantly increased and diffusely redistributed throughout the supporting cell cytoplasm. Na+K+ATPase, NKCC1, and α-syntrophin were expressed within sensory epithelia and were unaltered in Meniere’s disease specimens. Expression of AQP1, AQP4, or AQP6 mRNA did not differ in vestibular endorgans from patients with Meniere’s disease. Changes in AQP4 (decreased) and AQP6 (increased) expression in Meniere’s disease specimens suggest that the supporting cell might be a cellular target

Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Seed Coating on Grain Protein and Mineral Composition of Old and Modern Bread Wheat Genotypes

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on yield and quality was investigated on a set of seven bread wheat genotypes with varying years of release, including five old genotypes and two modern varieties. A two-year field trial was conducted in central Italy under rainfed conditions. The effect of AM fungal seed coating was proved by assessing the AM fungal root colonization and studied on agronomic and quality traits, and in particular on gluten-forming proteins and grain mineral composition. AMF seed coating led to a general yield improvement in old genotypes (+24%). Concerning the effects on grain quality, while modern genotypes showed an increase in protein content (+16%), in the old ones an improvement of gluten quality was observed, with an increased proportion of HMW-GS from +17% to +92%. The gluten index results were mostly influenced by HMW-GS allelic configuration and amount, showing a significant correlation with gliadin-to-glutenin ratio and HMW-GS to LMW-GS. Concerning mineral uptake, AM fungal treatment determined a general increase in P content, which was more marked in the modern group (+44%). Furthermore, AMF significantly increased mean Fe concentration in Verna (+53%) and Bologna (+45%). Finally, phytate content did not increase with AMF, without affecting mineral bioavailability

Risk assessment in ballast water management

The risk assessment (RA) developed according to the BWM Convention is the most recently agreed global RA for bioinvasions. It was developed to enable a selective ballast water management (BWM) approach according to the BWM Convention and the G7 Guidelines. It describes three different BWM RA methods, “environmental matching”, “species’ biogeographical” and “species-specific” RA. The environmental matching RA between the areas of ballast water origin and discharge considers non-biological parameters as surrogates for the species survival potential in the new environment. The species’ biogeographical RA identifies species with overlapping distribution in the donor and recipient ports and biogeographic regions which is taken as direct indications of the similarity of the environmental conditions and hence species survival in the new environment. The species-specific RA is focused on life history information and physiological tolerances to identify a species’ physiological limits estimating its potential to survive or complete its life cycle in the new environment and considers target species. There are two fundamentally different RA approaches under the BWM Convention, the selective and the blanket approach. A blanket approach means that all ships intending to discharge ballast water in a port are required to conduct BWM. The selective approach means that appropriate BWM measures are required depending on different risk levels posed by the intended ballast water discharge. In one instance ships may be exempted from BWM requirements provided that the risk level of a ballast water discharge is acceptable. In another instance, if the risk is identified as (very) high, ships may be required to take additional measures based on the G13 Guidelines. The risk level is a RA result and input data reliability is of key importance. The chapter provides detailed step-by-step RA models for exemptions and for selective BWM measures, ready to be used by administrations