Prostorna rasprostranjenost jedinki nekih vrsta pašnjaka Sesleria albicans - Carex sempervirens

Spatial distribution of the individuals belonging to different species of the Seslerio-Caricetum sempervirentis in the Dolomites was investigated by means of 16 transects each of 2 metar lenght. Along each transect all individuals of vasculars plants growing along the axis were registered. The elaboration was carried out on the 13 species occurring most frequently, on the basis of binary association. The frequences observed differ in general significantly from a random distribution. In some cases there is the tendency for a species to occur more frequently in contact with individuals of certain species and avoids other species. In particular the two dominating species {Sesleria albicans and Carex sempervirens) seem to avoid each other and to be in contact with some preferential species. Consequently, in the community there is the tendency towards a differentiation of microniches. These relationships are explained as a consequence of growth form and characteristics of soil.Prostorna rasprostranjenost jedinki različitih vrsta koje rastu u zajednici Seslerio-Caricetum sempervirentis u Dolomitima proučavana je na temelju 16 transekata dužine 2 m. Na svakom transektu zabilježene su sve jedinke viših biljaka, koje su rasle duž osi transekta. Obrada je izvršena na 13 najčećih vrsta, upotrebljavajući metodu "binarne asocijacije", tj. brojenjem koliko puta jedinke jedne vrste rastu u dodiru s jedinkama iste vrste ili pak drugih vrsta. Rezultati pokazuju da u mnogo slučajeva zapažena učestalost znatno odstupa od slučajne rasprostranjenosti: jedinke pojedinih vrsta nastoje se udružiti ili razdružiti. Posebno valja istaknuti, da dvije dominantne vrste Sesleria albicans i Carex sempervirens nastoje ne rasti jedna blizu druge, pokazujući da imaju pratilice s kojima su češće u kontaktu. U sklopu zajednice javlja se dakle tendencija diferenciranja mikroniša. Ti se odnosi mogu objasniti pomoću oblika rasta i obilježja substrata

Studies of bone mineral density in children affected by dietary intolerances

The Pediatric Department of the University of Ferrara has developed a special expertise in the field of hemoglobinopathies and has also an interest in gastrointestinal diseases. It has a long standing collaboration with the Department of Genetics of the University of Verona. The main fields of interest are thalassemia, gluten intolerance, and osteoporosis in its various aspects. Using our previous research experience as a platform, we plan to study Vitamin D metabolism, bone mineral density, the FGF23 and Klotho axis in patients with thalassemia, in patients with adult type lactose intolerance, in patients treated with antiepileptic drugs and in those who suffer from gluten intolerance. Finally, we intend to cooperate with another group (PP9) of the Trans2Care project in order to clarify the role of tissue antitransglutaminases in seronegative patients with symptoms of gluten intolerance

Prevalence of olfactory and other developmental anomalies in patients with central hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

Introduction: Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) is a heterogeneous disease caused by mutations in several genes. Based on the presence of hyposmia/anosmia it is distin- guished into Kallmann syndrome (KS) and isolated HH. The prevalence of other develop- mental anomalies is not well established. Methods: We studied 36 patients with HH (31 males, 5 females, mean age 41.5), 9 with familial and 27 with sporadic HH (33 congenital, 3 adult-onset), by physical examination, smell test (BSIT Sensonics), audiometry, renal ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imag- ing of the olfactory structures. Results: Based on the smell test, patients were classified as normosmic (n = 21, 58.3%) and hypo/anosmic (n = 15, 41.6%). Hypoplasia/agenesis of olfactory bulbs was found in 40% of patients (10/25; 75% hypo/anosmic, 7.6% normosmic, p<0.01, Fisher’s test). Remarkably, olfactory structures were normal in two anosmic patients, while one nor- mosmic patient presented a unilateral hypoplastic bulb. Fourteen of 33 patients (42.4%) presented neurosensorial hearing loss of various degrees (28.5% hypo/anosmic, 52.6% normosmic, p=NS). Renal ultrasound revealed 27.7% of cases with renal anomalies (26.6% hypo/anosmic, 28.5% normosmic, p = NS). At least one midline defect was found in 50% of the patients (53.3% hypo/anosmic, 47.6% normosmic, p = NS), including abnor- mal palate, dental anomalies, pectus excavatum, bimanual synkinesis, iris coloboma, and absent nasal cartilage. Anamnestically 4/31 patients reported cryptorchidism (25% hypo/anosmic, 5.2% normosmic, p = NS). Conclusion: Hypo/anosmia is significantly related to anatomical anomalies of the olfac- tory bulbs/tracts but the prevalence of other developmental anomalies, especially midline defects and neurosensorial hearing loss, is high both in HH and KS and independent of the presence of anosmia/hyposmia. From the clinical standpoint KS and normosmic HH should be considered as the same complex, developmental disease

Meta-analysis of the effects of venous super-drainage in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps for breast reconstruction

Venous congestion is the most common vascular complication of the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flaps. Adding a second venous drainage by anastomosing a flap vein and a recipient vein (super-drainage) is considered the solution of choice. Evidence to support this procedure, had not yet been confirmed by an analysis of the literature. We aimed to provide this evidence

Complete aromatase deficiency in four adult men: detection of a novel mutation and two known mutations in the CYP19A1 gene

The abstracts descibes four new cases of patients with aromatase deficiency. Both the clinical features and the results of the molecular studies are reported

Meta-analysis of the effects of venous super-drainage in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps for breast reconstruction

INTRODUCTION: Venous congestion is the most common vascular complication of the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flaps. Adding a second venous drainage by anastomosing a flap vein and a recipient vein (super-drainage) is considered the solution of choice. Evidence to support this procedure, had not yet been confirmed by an analysis of the literature. We aimed to provide this evidence.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched the literature (MedLine, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar), for studies discussing venous congestion and venous super-drainage in DIEP flap for breast reconstruction. Thirteen of the 35 articles compared results between one or two venous anastomoses. Meta-analysis was performed following PRISMA guidelines. Pooled risk ratio (RRs) for congestion, fat necrosis, partial necrosis, and total necrosis with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a fixed-effect model with the Mantel-Haenszel method. The need to return to surgery (95% CI) was estimated with a random effect model using the DerSimonian and Liard method.RESULTS: We showed a statistically significant advantage of super-drainage to reduce the venous congestion of the flap (RR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.04-0.34, p-value &lt;.001), partial flap necrosis (RR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.30-0.84, p-value .008), total flap necrosis (RR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.11-0.85, p-value .023), and the need to take the patient back to surgery for perfusion-related complications (RR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.21-0.99, p value .048).CONCLUSIONS: Performing a second venous anastomosis between the SIEV and a recipient vein (venous superdrainage) reduces venous congestion and related complications in DIEP flaps for breast reconstruction

Combined Orthoplastic Approach in Fracture-Related Infections of the Distal Tibia

This series reports on the treatment of distal tibia (DT) fracture-related infections (FRI) with a combined orthoplastic approach. Thirteen patients were included. In eight patients with extensive bone involvement and in those with a non-healed fracture, the DT was resected ("staged approach"). In five cases, the DT was preserved ("single-stage approach"). A wide debridement was performed, and the cavity was filled with antibiotic-loaded PerOssal beads. All patients had a soft-tissue defect covered by a free vascularized flap (anterolateral thigh perforator flap in eight cases, latissimus dorsi flap in five). At the final follow-up (mean 25 months, range, 13-37), no infection recurrence was observed. In one patient, the persistence of infection was observed, and the patient underwent a repeated debridement. In two cases, a voluminous hematoma was observed. However, none of these complications impacted the final outcome. The successful treatment of FRI depends on proper debridement and obliteration of dead spaces with a flap. Therefore, when dealing with DT FRI, debridement of infected bone and soft tissues must be as radical as required, with no fear of the need for massive reconstructions

Low Levels of Serum Paraoxonase Activities are Characteristic of Metabolic Syndrome and May Influence the Metabolic-Syndrome-Related Risk of Coronary Artery Disease

Low concentrations of plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDLs) are characteristic in metabolic syndrome (MS). The antioxidant ability of HDLs is, at least in part, attributable to pleiotropic serum paraoxonase (PON1). Different PON1 activities have been assessed in 293 subjects with (n = 88) or without MS (n = 205) and with (n = 195) or without (n = 98) angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD). MS subjects had low PON1 activities, with a progressively decreasing trend by increasing the number of MS abnormalities. The activity versus 7-O-diethyl phosphoryl,3-cyano,4-methyl,7-hydroxycoumarin (DEPCyMC), which is considered a surrogate marker of PON1 concentration, showed the most significant association with MS, independently of both HDL and apolipoprotein A-I levels. Subjects with MS and low DEPCyMCase activity had the highest CAD risk (OR 4.34 with 95% CI 1.44–13.10), while no significant increase of risk was found among those with MS but high DEPCyMCase activity (OR 1.45 with 95% CI 0.47–4.46). Our results suggest that low PON1 concentrations are typical in MS and may modulate the MS-related risk of CAD