Low cadmium concentration in whole blood from residents of Northern Sardinia (Italy) with special reference to smoking habits

Introduction. The present study was initiated to investigate the cadmium concentrations in whole blood of Northern Sardinian, non-occupationally exposed adult subjects. Sardinia is a large Italian island which differs genetically and environmentally from other mainland Italian areas. Methods. Two hundred and forty-three adults (157 females and 86 males) were selected in the study area from subjects who were undergoing blood collection for laboratory analysis during the period January 2005-May 2005. Whole blood was analysed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer equipped with a Zeeman-effect background corrector (Perkin Elmer ZL5100) and an auto sampler. The adopted analytical procedure uses the Stabilized Platform Temperature Furnace (STPF) technique. Results. The mean value of Blood Cadmium Concentration (BCdC), expressed as Geometric Mean, was 0.32 mg/l (CI 95%: 0.31-0.34 mg/l) significantly ranging from 0.27 mg/l (CI 95%: 0.26-0.29 mg/l) in non-smokers to 0.34 mg/l (CI 95%: 0.30-0.39 mg/l) in ex-smokers up to 0.47 mg/l (CI 95%: 0.42-0.53 mg/l) in smokers (p inf. 0.0001). Discussion. The results show that BCdC levels in Northern Sar- dinian non-occupationally exposed adults are lower than levels found in many other regions, including those within Italy. Nev- ertheless, similar values have been detected in other European countries and cities. Conclusions. In relation to other reports in which data were analysed by strata for smoking habit and age, we found similar BCdC values among non smokers. However, Sardinian smokers seem to show lower levels of blood cadmium

Prevalence and type distribution of human papillomavirus infection in women from North Sardinia, Italy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been associated with several disorders of the genital tract, skin and oropharynx. The aims of our study were to evaluate the prevalence of HPV infection in women between 15 and 54 years of age in North Sardinia, Italy, to identify the prevalence of High Risk - Human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV) genotypes and to establish a correlation between molecular and cytological results.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From 2007 to 2009 we consecutively enrolled women aged 15-54 years admitted to public and private outpatient settings. All the participants filled in a questionnaire about the socio-cultural state, sexual activity and awareness about HPV. 323 cervical specimens were tested for HPV-DNA and HPV genotypes with INNO-LiPA HPV Genotyping CE Amp kit. Samples showing positivity to some HPV genotypes were re-tested using "in house" quantitative Real-Time PCR assays.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall HPV-DNA positivity was detected in 35.9% of the women. The prevalence of HR-HPV infection among HPV positive samples was 93.1% with a specific prevalence of HPV 16, 51, 31, 53 and 18 of 54.3%, 37.9%, 10.3%, 6.9% and 5.2%, respectively. Co-infection with any HPV, HR-HPV, LR-HPV and HR/LR-HPV type was 18.3%, 14.9%, 0.9% and 2.5%, respectively; HPV 16/51 co-infection was detected in 64.6% of the HR-HPV co-infection group. The most frequent HPV-genotypes detected were 16 (32.5%) and 51 (22.7%). Among the 57 patients harboring mono-infection the most prevalent HPV genotypes were 16 (38.6%) and 31(10.5%). A multivariate analysis identified a statistical significant association between HPV infection and age and between HPV infection and previous sexual transmitted diseases. A statistically significant association between cytological cervical lesions and generic HPV exposure was identified.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>To our knowledge, this is the first survey evaluating the prevalence of HPV infection in Northern Sardinia and drawing attention to the unusual high proportion of genotype HPV 51. Given the recent implementation of a widespread immunization program with vaccines not containing HPV 51, it has been relevant to prove the high prevalence of this HPV genotype from the start of the vaccination campaign, in order to avoid in the future attributing to the vaccination program a possible selection effect (HPV replacement).</p

PCR primers based on different portions of insertion elements can assist phylogeny studies, strain fingerprinting and species identification in rhizobia.

Using the sequence of an insertion element originally found in Rhizobium sullae, the nitrogen-fixing bacterial symbiont of the legume Hedysarum coronarium, we devised three primer pairs (inbound, outbound and internal primers) for the following applications: (a) tracing genetic relatedness within rhizobia using a method independent of ribosomal inheritance, based on the presence and conservation of IS elements; (b) achieve sensitive and reproducible bacterial fingerprinting; (c) enable a fast and unambiguous detection of rhizobia at the species level. In terms of taxonomy, while in line with part of the 16S rRNA gene- and glutamine synthetase I-based clustering, the tools appeared nonetheless more coherent with the actual geographical ranges of origin of rhizobial species, strengthening the European-Mediterranean connections and discerning them from the asian and american taxa. The fingerprinting performance of the outward-pointing primers, designed upon the inverted repeats, was shown to be at least as sensitive as BOX PCR, and to be functional on a universal basis with all 13 bacterial species tested. The primers designed on the internal part of the transposase gene instead proved highly species-specific for R. sullae, enabling selective distinction from its most related species, and testing positive on every R. sullae strain examined, fulfilling the need of PCR-mediated species identification. A general use of other IS elements for a combined approach to rhizobial taxonomy and ecology is proposed

Characterization of endophytic and symbiotic bacteria within plants of the endemic association Centaureetum horridae Mol.

We investigated the internal association of bacteria with Astragalus terraccianoi and Centaurea horrida, two endemic plants of the Mediterranean islands, forming the phytosociological association Centaureetum horridae, typical of windswept cliffs on the rocky shores of Asinara (Sardinia, Italy) and other limited locations. Sampling occurred in the protected natural park of the Asinara island. Roots and stems of the two plants and the root nodules of A. terraccianoi were surface sterilized in order to remove external and rhizospheric microbiota and to subsequently isolate the culturable bacterial communities. Plate counts revealed densities of endophytes between 3.7 7 102 and 2.8 7 104 colony forming units per gram of fresh weight. 16S rDNA sequencing revealed the occurrence of bacteria displaying high similarity with Actinobacterium sp., Paenibacillus sp., Rhizobium sp., Methylobacterium sp., Pedobacter panaciterrae, Aerococcus viridans, Stenotrophomonas rhizophila, Bacillus sporothermodurans, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus simplex, Bacillus flexus, Streptomyces ciscaucasicus and Dyella sp. The putative nitrogen-fixing rhizobium symbiont of A. terraccianoi was identified for the first time. It turned out to belong to the slow-growing Bradyrhizobium genus and to share a 97% similarity with Bradyrhizobium canariense. It was found to be nonculturable and to coexist in nodules with a number of different endophytes