Studi sulla struttura delle popolazioni di <i>cryphonectria parasitica</i> dei castagneti del centro Sardegna finalizzati alla selezione di ceppi ipovirulenti da utilizzare nella lotta biologica

The occurrence and diversity of vegetative compatibility (vc) types in populations of Cryphonectria parasitica, the causal agent of chestnut blight, were examined throughout five chestnut-growing areas in central Sardinia (Italy). The hypovirulent strains of the pathogen were more frequently isolated with respect to virulent ones. Four vc types were identified among the 131 isolates, obtained from 150 randomly selected cankers (30 for each area) by means of European tester isolates (EU). EU-12 and EU-2 groups were the dominant vc types, reaching a percentage of 48,9% and 46,6% respectively, followed by EU-14 (3,8%) and EU-1 (0,7%). EU-12 was found in all five populations investigated, whereas EU-2 was isolated from four populations; EU-1 and EU-14 were found each in only one population. The low diversity of the Sardinian vc types was comparable with that of other countries where the pathogen was recently introduced. The composition pattern of Sardinian vc types is very peculiar because include two dominant vc types: EU-2, usually dominant in North Italy and Western Europe, and EU-12 more frequent in Southern Italy, Balkans and Greece. In conclusion, the low diversity in vc types and the natural occurrence of superficial non-lethal cankers in all chestnut-growing areas support the possibility of successful application of biological control measures at local level in Sardinian chestnut forests

Metodologie innovative per la crioconservazione del germoplasma nella specie ovina

Aim of this work was to develop new methods for germplasm cryopreservation in the ovine species. The research was focused on new techniques and devices for the conservation of semen, tissues and embryos in an effective and cost-saving manner. The research was divided into three main experiments. In the former, the possibility of semen conservation after partial freeze-drying was tested; such approach would avoid the use of nitrogen and of the entire cold chain, with enormous advantages in terms of costs and feasibility. In the second and third experiments, a new micro-device (E.Vit), consisting of a 0.25 mm diameter straw with a 50 μm pore polycarbonate grid at one end, was used to create two protocols for vitrification of prepubertal animal testicular tissue and blastocyst stage embryos. The first experiment showed that ram semen maintains a good vitality after cryopreservation with low-toxic cryoprotectants and the partial freeze-drying technique suggest lyophilization as an alternative technique to classical freezing. E-Vit was successfully applied in both second and third experiments. Cell vitality and gene expression were evaluated in the vitrified-warmed testicular tissues, while the validity of the protocol for embryo cryopreservation was assessed in terms of post-warming survival and DNA fragmentation (TUNEL test). These new cryopreservation methodologies may significantly contribute to the improvement of reproductive technologies in both animal and human field

Liposarcoma pleomorfo a localizzazione mammaria in un cane = Canine pleomorphic liposarcoma of mammary gland

Liposarcoma is the most common malignant soft tissue tumors in humans, whereas in dog is an uncommon neoplasm of all skin and subcutaneous tumors. Lipocytic tumors have been categorized as atypical lipoma, well differentiated liposarcoma, myxoid liposarcoma and pleomorphic liposarcoma

Un Infrequente caso di "spindle cell tumor" a localizzazione splenica primaria in un cane: rilievi citologici ed istopatologici, osservazioni istochimiche ed immunoistochimiche

Tutti i tumori fusocellulari derivano verosimilmente da una unica cellula staminale mesenchimale pluripotente. Macroscopicamente e microscopicamente i tumori delle cellule muscolari lisce e i tumori del tessuto connettivo fibroso, si presentano morfologicamente simili. Abbiamo ritenuto interessante riferire su un cane meticcio, maschio, di quattro anni sottoposto ad eutanasia dopo aver mostrato letargia, anoressia e perdita di peso. Alla necroscopia si osservava una voluminosa neoformazione splenica di colore biancastro, dura e di consistenza fibrosa. Il fegato si presentava notevolmente aumentato di volume con numerose neoformazioni di piccole e medie dimensioni. Diversi campioni appartenenti agli organi sopramenzionati, venivano sottoposti ad una prima osservazione citologica. Parte di questi, dopo fissazione in formalina venivano inclusi in paraffina. Sezioni di 3-5 μ erano sottoposte a colorazioni ordinarie e speciali (H. E., tricromica di Mallory Azan e Van Gieson). Si eseguivano prove immunoistochimiche utilizzando il seguente algoritmo anticorpale: anti pan-citocheratine, anti vimentina, anti fattore VIII, anti-αactina L, anti desmina, anti CD 15, anti S-100. La neoplasia, altamente infiltrante, era costituita da ampi fasci intrecciati di cellule allungate fusiformi, fibroblastosimili, a moderato indice mitotico, disposte in maniera ordinata, a spina di pesce. Esse risultavano positive alla vimentina e alla αactina L e negative alla desmina. Dette caratteristiche ci consentivano di formulare diagnosi di fibrosarcoma, neoplasia a infrequente localizzazione splenica primaria, e di identificare come metastasi della stessa, le neoformazioni riscontrare a livello epatico

Indagini istologiche, immunoistochimiche e immunobiochimiche in capre clinicamente sane provenienti da un focolaio di scrapie

Nel corso del 2003, nell’ambito del piano di sorveglianza passiva sulle Encefalopatie Spongiformi Trasmissibili (TSEs), per la prima volta in Sardegna, è stata diagnosticata istologicamente ed immunoistochimicamente la scrapie in una capra. Il soggetto proveniva da un gregge nel quale da 2 anni si manifestava una patologia polimorfa caratterizzata talvolta da sintomi neurologici e da una mortalità intorno al 20%. Sulla base della legge attualmente in vigore in Italia si è proceduto all’abbattimento di tutte le capre presenti in allevamento (n = 93). Durante l’abbattimento venivano prelevati da ciascun capo obex, linfonodi retrofaringei e tonsille. L’esame istologico dell’obex non evidenziava quadri lesivi di tipo spongiforme mentre l’esame immunoistochimico del tessuto nervoso e linfatico evidenziava la presenza di cinque soggetti nello stato pre-clinico della malattia

Recettori per estrogeni e progesterone in tumori mammari di cagna

Con la presente indagine si è inteso: a) verificare l’applicabilità di alcuni monoclonali nell'immunolocalizzazione di recettori per estrogeni e progesterone; b) valutare l’espressine di tali ricettori in differenti tipologie neoplastiche, anche in rapporto con il livello di positività di nuclear antigen (Mib-1); c) sottoporre i risultati a elaborazione statistica allo scopo di verificare la significatività delle medie di espressione e delle correlazioni

Evidence for preferences of Italian patients for physician attire

BACKGROUND: The relationship between patient and physician is a complex interaction that includes multiple factors. The objective of this study was to explore Italian patients' preferences regarding physician appearance. METHODS: A questionnaire was developed to survey patients in different medical and surgical settings; each subject was asked to choose one picture of either a male or female physician from a selection of different attires (professional, casual, surgical scrubs, trendy, and careless). Patients were also surveyed about issues such as the presence of a name tag, hair length, trousers on women, amount of makeup, presence of tattoos, and body piercing. Statistical analysis was performed using a Chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 765 questionnaires (534 completed from patients waiting for an internal medicine visit and 231 for other subspecialties) were completed. The majority (45%) of patients preferred the gastroenterologist to wear a surgical scrub with a white coat. For the other specialists, patients accepted either scrubs or formal dress under a white coat (P ≤ 0.05), with a name tag. Trendy attire was preferred by nine patients (1.1%). The entire sample judged it inappropriate for clinicians to have long hair, visible tattoos, body piercing, and, for women, to wear trousers and use excessive makeup. CONCLUSION: This is the first study conducted in Italy regarding physician attire. As in other Western countries, Italian patients favor physicians in professional attire with a white coat. Wearing professional dress is part of "etiquette based medicine" and may favorably influence clinician-patient relationships and patient compliance.</br

Epidemiological patterns of asbestos exposure and spatial clusters of incident cases of malignant mesothelioma from the Italian national registry

Abstract BACKGROUND: Previous ecological spatial studies of malignant mesothelioma cases, mostly based on mortality data, lack reliable data on individual exposure to asbestos, thus failing to assess the contribution of different occupational and environmental sources in the determination of risk excess in specific areas. This study aims to identify territorial clusters of malignant mesothelioma through a Bayesian spatial analysis and to characterize them by the integrated use of asbestos exposure information retrieved from the Italian national mesothelioma registry (ReNaM). METHODS: In the period 1993 to 2008, 15,322 incident cases of all-site malignant mesothelioma were recorded and 11,852 occupational, residential and familial histories were obtained by individual interviews. Observed cases were assigned to the municipality of residence at the time of diagnosis and compared to those expected based on the age-specific rates of the respective geographical area. A spatial cluster analysis was performed for each area applying a Bayesian hierarchical model. Information about modalities and economic sectors of asbestos exposure was analyzed for each cluster. RESULTS: Thirty-two clusters of malignant mesothelioma were identified and characterized using the exposure data. Asbestos cement manufacturing industries and shipbuilding and repair facilities represented the main sources of asbestos exposure, but a major contribution to asbestos exposure was also provided by sectors with no direct use of asbestos, such as non-asbestos textile industries, metal engineering and construction. A high proportion of cases with environmental exposure was found in clusters where asbestos cement plants were located or a natural source of asbestos (or asbestos-like) fibers was identifiable. Differences in type and sources of exposure can also explain the varying percentage of cases occurring in women among clusters. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates shared exposure patterns in territorial clusters of malignant mesothelioma due to single or multiple industrial sources, with major implications for public health policies, health surveillance, compensation procedures and site remediation programs

Transformations agricoles et agroalimentaires

À l’heure des robots et du numérique, la terre (habitat, agriculture, paysage, planète) et la nourriture (du corps et de l’âme) sont parmi les préoccupations majeures dans les espaces médiatiques et politiques. Le pétrole et l’abondance qui l’a accompagné nous avaient fait oublier qu’elles sont au fondement des sociétés humaines. La « crise alimentaire » de 2008, qui a secoué plusieurs continents, a rappelé aux gouvernements l’enjeu de la sécurité alimentaire. Après des décennies d’excédents, de baisse du prix des produits agricoles de base, la question de la valeur de la terre et de l’agriculture est de retour. La question de la santé et celle des droits humains prennent une place élargie tant dans les politiques publiques et dans la production de normes alimentaires. Des mouvements sociaux transnationaux s’emparent de la question de l’avenir de l’agriculture et de l’alimentation, et de celle de la « bonne vie ». Pour contribuer à cette réflexion sur l’avenir de la terre et de la nourriture, cet ouvrage étudie la socialisation de l’agriculture, c’est-à-dire sa prise en charge tant par les politiques agricoles (essentiellement nationales) que par l’organisation des marchés dans un cadre national et international. Il le fait en prenant un large recul et mobilise trois temporalités. La première est celle de la planète. La seconde, celle des régimes métaboliques, façons dont l’humanité à différents stades de développement, mobilise matériaux et énergie. La troisième est celle du capitalisme, avec la succession de systèmes hégémoniques (ce qui n’exclue pas de multiples polarités). Cet ouvrage réunit des recherches récentes d’économistes, de sociologues, d’historiens et d’agronomes, de différents pays, recherches qui ont en commun de concerner la place de l’agriculture dans l’évolution des capitalismes

Xanthomicrol Activity in Cancer HeLa Cells: Comparison with Other Natural Methoxylated Flavones

The methoxylated flavone xanthomicrol represents an uncommon active phenolic compound identified in herbs/plants with a long application in traditional medicine. It was isolated from a sample of Achillea erba-rotta subsp. moschata (musk yar-row) flowering tops. Xanthomicrol promising biological properties include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. This study mainly focused on the evaluation of the xanthomicrol impact on lipid metabolism in cancer HeLa cells, together with the investigation of the treatment-induced changes in cell growth, morphology, and apoptosis. At the dose range of 5–100 μM, xanthomicrol (24 h of incubation) significantly reduced viability and modulated lipid profile in cancer Hela cells. It induced marked changes in the phospholipid/cholesterol ratio, significant decreases in the levels of oleic and palmitic acids, and a marked increase of stearic acid, involving an inhibitory effect on de novo lipogenesis and desaturation in cancer cells. Moreover, marked cell morphological alterations, signs of apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase were observed in cancer treated cells. The bioactivity profile of xanthomicrol was compared to that of the anticancer methoxylated flavones eupatilin and artemetin, and structure–activity relationships were underlined