Concentrations of free radicals and beta-endorphins in repeat breeder cows

Repeat breeding (RB) is one of the major problems that affect the reproductive efficiency and economy of milk production in dairy animals. So far, the etiopathogenesis of this pathology has not been defined completely. Stress has been hypothesized to be a cause of impaired reproductive efficiency. Stress may cause an overproduction of beta-endorphins and free radicals; in particular, reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this work is to determine the concentrations of these substances in RB cows and to evaluate the correlation with the serum level of progesterone. The study was performed on 60 dairy cows: 26 RB and 34 control cows. Blood samples were collected on day 12 and day 16, after artificial insemination (AI) in all subjects, in order to assess the concentrations of progesterone, free radicals and beta-endorphins. The stressors, free radicals and beta-endorphins, that we considered, were higher in repeat breeders (day 12, 93.32(±1.91) UCarr and 0.50(±0.03) ng/ml; day 16, 94.42(±1.91) UCarr and 0.61(±0.03) ng/ml), with a lower level of progesterone, which probably is responsible for failure to conceive. The stress factors (free radicals and beta-endorphins) may actually enhance each other and induce an inhibition of progesterone synthesis in repeat breeders

Absence of severe complications from SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with rheumatic diseases treated with biologic drugs

We read with interest the Editorial by Cron and Chatam (1) suggesting a cytokine storm syndrome (CSS) occurring in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and, consequently, a possible role for targeted approaches to blocking inflammatory cytokines

Towards dissecting the structural determinant of Peach latent mosaic viroid inducing mosaic symptoms

Most isolates of Peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd) do not incite foliar symptoms, but a few number of isolates cause peach mosaic (PM) or peach calico (PC), an extreme albino phenotype. The PC determinant has been previously mapped at an insertion of 12-13 nt folding into a hairpin capped by a U-rich loop but the PM determinant, which is not associated with a specific insertion, remains unidentified and could reside in one or more domains of the branched conformation proposed for PLMVd. To tackle this problem we have selected for further dissection one variant (GDS6), recovered from a typical PM isolate (GDS), which is very infectious and elicits consistently a characteristic PM. We have initially focused on G337, a position that appears associated with PM in multiple alignments that include GDS6 and other PM-inducing and latent variants. To determine the role of G337 in infectivity and symptoms, GF-305 peach seedlings were inoculated with in vitro transcripts of recombinant plasmids containing dimeric tandem inserts of PLMVd-cDNAs with all possible changes at this position introduced by site-directed mutagenesis. Deletion of G337 abolished infectivity, while substitutions by A, C or U incited, in most inoculated plants, PM symptoms. Cloning and sequencing showed that the A substitution at position 337 was preserved in the progeny or reverted to G, while C or U substitutions at this position were not stable and reverted to A or G in the progenies. Extending this approach to additional nucleotides of loop A, or of other PLMVd domains, may provide hints in identifying the determinant of PM. Keywords: Viroids, Pathogenesis, Peach diseas

Germinal ovarian tumors in reproductive age women: Fertility-sparing and outcome

MOGCTs (malignant ovarian germ cell tumors) are rare tumors that mainly affect patients of reproductive age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fertility and survival outcomes in young women with MOCGTs treated with fertility-sparing surgery (FSS).From 2000 to 2018, data from 28 patients of reproductive age with a diagnosis of MOGCT at the University of Bari were collected. Most received FSS, and in patients treated conservatively, the reproductive outcome and survival were investigated. Data of patient demographics, clinical presentation, oncology marker dosage, staging, type of surgery, histological examination, survival, and reproductive outcome were collected from hospital and office charts. All informed consent was obtained from all patients. The median age was 24 (range: 9-45 years). The majority of the patients had stage IIIC. Twenty-four woman received FSS consisting of unilateral ovariectomy and omentectomy, whereas only 4 women, based on their stage (IIIC), received a radical surgery (hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy, lymphadenectomy, and omentectomy). Our study shows that FSS in MOGCTs can produce good results both on reproductive outcomes and on survival. Indeed, in our group, there was only 1 case of exitus as result of recurrence. Furthermore, patients after FSS maintained normal ovarian function and 5 of 5 women who tried to get pregnant succeeded spontaneously. The median follow-up was 90 months (range 3-159).Conservative surgery for MOGCTs should be considered for women of reproductive age who wish to preserve fertility

Transcriptome analysis of the mobile genome ICEclc in Pseudomonas knackmussii B13

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Integrative and conjugative elements (ICE) form a diverse group of DNA elements that are integrated in the chromosome of the bacterial host, but can occasionally excise and horizontally transfer to a new host cell. ICE come in different families, typically with a conserved core for functions controlling the element's behavior and a variable region providing auxiliary functions to the host. The ICE<it>clc </it>element of <it>Pseudomonas knackmussii </it>strain B13 is representative for a large family of chromosomal islands detected by genome sequencing approaches. It provides the host with the capacity to degrade chloroaromatics and 2-aminophenol.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we study the transcriptional organization of the ICE<it>clc </it>core region. By northern hybridizations, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (5'-RACE) fifteen transcripts were mapped in the core region. The occurrence and location of those transcripts were further confirmed by hybridizing labeled cDNA to a semi-tiling micro-array probing both strands of the ICE<it>clc </it>core region. Dot blot and semi-tiling array hybridizations demonstrated most of the core transcripts to be upregulated during stationary phase on 3-chlorobenzoate, but not on succinate or glucose.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The transcription analysis of the ICE<it>clc </it>core region provides detailed insights in the mode of regulatory organization and will help to further understand the complex mode of behavior of this class of mobile elements. We conclude that ICE<it>clc </it>core transcription is concerted at a global level, more reminiscent of a phage program than of plasmid conjugation.</p

Management of lymphoma survivor patients in Italy: an evaluation by Fondazione Italiana Linfomi

Several outpatient models for the follow-up of cancer survivors have been developed worldwide. A multidisciplinary approach is often necessary to guarantee the best monitoring of long-term toxicities. Guidelines also indicate a close education on healthy lifestyles. In this context, we have analyzed the Italian follow-up modalities of lymphoma survivors, with the aim to have a starting line to hypothesize and plan the best model for Italian hematology centers