Food risk associated with vegetable consumption, exposure to antimicrobial-resistant strains and pesticide residues

This preliminary study aimed to detect biological and chemical contaminants in vegetables sold in Sicily for human consumption, assess the spread of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) strains in these foods, and characterize their antimicrobial-resistance genes. A total of 29 fresh and ready-to-eat samples were analyzed. Microbiological analyses were performed for the detection of Salmonella spp. and the enumeration of Enterococci, Enterobacteriaceae, and Escherichia coli. Antimicrobial resistance was assessed by the Kirby-Bauer method, according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Pesticides were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. No samples were contaminated by Salmonella spp., E. coli was detected in 1 sample of fresh lettuce at a low bacterial count (2 log cfu/g). 17.24% of vegetables were contaminated by Enterococci and 65.5% by Enterobacteriaceae (bacterial counts between 1.56 log cfu/g and 5.93 log cfu/g and between 1.6 log cfu/g and 5.48 log cfu/g respectively). From 86.2% of vegetables, 53 AMR strains were isolated, and 10/53 isolates were multidrug resistant. Molecular analysis showed that the blaTEM gene was detected in 12/38 β-lactam-resistant/intermediate-resistant isolates. Genes conferring tetracycline resistance (tetA, tetB, tetC, tetD, tetW) were detected in 7/10 isolates. The qnrS gene was detected in 1/5 quinolone-resistant isolates, the sulI gene was detected in 1/4 sulfonamide-resistant/intermediate-resistant isolates and the sulIII gene was never detected. Pesticides were detected in 27.3% of samples, all of which were leafy vegetables. Despite the satisfactory hygienic status of samples, the high percentage of AMR bacteria detected stresses the need for an effective monitoring of these foods as well as adequate strategies to counteract the spread of AMR bacteria along the agricultural chain. Also, the chemical contamination of vegetables should not be underestimated, especially considering that leafy vegetables are commonly consumed raw and that no official guidelines about maximum residue limits of pesticides in ready-to-eat vegetables are available

Natural history of cytomegalovirus infection in a series of patients diagnosed with moderate-severe ulcerative colitis

AIM: To evaluate the natural history of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection in a series of 28 ulcerative colitis patients in whom the search for HCMV was positive

Genere e servizio sociale. Habitus professionali, dinamiche di relazione, rappresentazioni

Il volume affronta la questione del genere nel servizio sociale, caratterizzandola in un contesto locale-nazionale e, nel contempo, aprendo lo sguardo alla dimensione internazionale. L’analisi della letteratura europea, delle statistiche e della tipizzazione mediale, in una dinamica di rimandi incrociati, si confronta con “caso siciliano”, campo d’analisi della ricerca condotta. Viene quindi evidenziato come la preponderanza numerica delle professioniste donne, in un mestiere considerato tradizionalmente femminile, pone in campo la convergenza di pregiudizi mediterranei e dominio maschile, ma anche di diktat riduzionistici della validità delle performance professionali improntati all'empatia e al riconoscimento delle differenze di genere alla mera gender neutrality, che non rendono giustizia – nella testimonianza degli intervistati - della ricchezza delle implicazioni valoriali che l’habitus dell’assistente sociale reclama e, per molti versi, già presenta senza averne adeguato riconoscimento

Local patterns of edaphic mesofauna distribution in the arid Patagonian steppe, Argentina

Mesofauna represents a major component of soil biological community and play a critical role in maintaining soil quality, as well as a range of ecosystem functions. A split-split plot design was performed with the aim of identifying the main predictors (phytogeographical criteria, cover type and environmental variables) of edaphic community structure under the effect of desertification. The study also aimed to examine the spatial and seasonal distribution of mesofauna community according to phytogeographical criteria (shrubland vs grassland) and cover type (bare vs covered soil) in the north-western Patagonian steppe of Argentina. The relationship between edaphic fauna, environmental variables and site location was investigated using redundancy analysis (RDA), while the main predictors of edaphic community were analysed using generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs). A total of 43 taxa of Oribatida were found in 168 samples. GLMM approaches selected cover type due to its higher effect on mesofauna community. In this sense, cover type was more important than phytogeographical criteria and environmental variables as predictor of mesofauna community. These findings contribute to a better understanding of how the distribution of mesofauna community respond in Patagonia steppe.Fil: Manzo, Rosa María. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Esquel. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Evolución y Biodiversidad; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Manzo, Luz Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagóica. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Esquel. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica; ArgentinaFil: Rizzuto, Susana. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Esquel. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Evolución y Biodiversidad; ArgentinaFil: Valenzuela, María Fernanda. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Esquel. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Evolución y Biodiversidad; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Pablo Antonio. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentin

An Unusual Presentation of Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is an often progressive, persistent and frequently life-threatening disease, described for the first time as characterized by ulceration of the upper jejunum, hypersecretion of gastric acid and non-beta islet cell tumors of the pancreas; this syndrome is due to the hypersecretion of gastrin. We report a case of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome presenting as severe esophagitis evolving in stenosis, which demonstrates how a delayed diagnosis may induce risk of disease spreading. In this setting new diagnostic approaches, such as somatostatin receptor scanning and positron emission tomography with 68 Ga-labeled octreotide, could be particularly useful, as well as further new therapeutic options, such as molecular targeted treatments and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, though surgery is currently the only form of curative treatment, and the role of the therapeutic options mentioned needs to be clarified by forthcoming studies