Effects of fungal root infection on the vigor of grapevines infested by root-feeding grape phylloxera

The role of fungal pathogens in damage of grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.; cv. Chardonnay) associated with grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae FITCH) was investigated. Seven different genera of secondary fungi were isolated from surface-disinfected feeding sites of phylloxera but none from surface-disinfected root tissues undamaged by phylloxera. Damage in vines infested with phylloxera and infected with Fusarium solani (MART.) or with F. solani and Pythium ultimum TROW. was significantly greater than damage in vines infested with phylloxera only. In a greenhouse experiment, total biomass was reduced by 16% in vines infested with phylloxera and 24 to 29% in vines infested with phylloxera and infected with fungus in comparison with control vines. Chlorophyll content, average internode length, shoot biomass, and root biomass in the uninfested, uninfected vines were significantly greater than vines infested with phylloxera or vines infested with phylloxera and infected with F. solani or P. ultimum, or both. Preventative treatment with metalaxyl, benomyl or copper quinolinolate fungicides significantly decreased damage in phylloxera-infested vines in comparison with untreated vines. The implications of this research with respect to management of grape phylloxera are discussed

The Effect of Cromolyn Sodium and Nedocromil Sodium Administered by A pressurized Aerosol with A spacer Device on Exercise-Induced Asthma in Children

To compare the effectiveness of cromolyn sodium (CS) (10 mg) and nedocromil sodium (NS) (4 mg) administered by a metered dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer device in preventing exercise-induced asthma (EIA), eight asthmatic children with EIA were studied in a randomized double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled study, CS and NS provided significant, comparable protection from EIA and both were better than placebo. We conclude that CS and NS administered by a pressurized aerosol with a spacer device provide equal protection against EIA in children

A methodology for the development of a Hinged Ankle-Foot Orthosis compatible with natural joint kinematics

This work presents a new concept to design Hinged Ankle-Foot Orthoses (HAFOs), based on the definition of a special mechanical articulation able to mimic the physiological behavior of the human ankle joint. Current commercial braces typically do not take into account the natural variability of the ankle joint axis. As the hinge location as well as the rotation axis variability are both relevant for the overall function of the device, and strongly depend on the subject-specific characteristics, a methodology for the development of a HAFO with a floating axis of rotation, based on the in-vivo kinematic analysis of the ankle joint, is here proposed. The kinematic analysis was performed by calculation of the instantaneous and mean helical axes over the collected stereo-photogrammetric data of joint motion. This procedure was tested on a healthy subject, leading to the design and fabrication of a first customized prototype of the orthosis. The performance of this HAFO was experimentally verified by motion analysis. All relevant results are presented, and further possible future improvements of the procedure are discussed

Analgesia and/or anaesthesia during piglet castration–part I: efficacy of farm protocols in pain management

Pain alleviation associated with surgical castration of piglets is a debated welfare issue. The present study compares the effect of different protocols involving analgesia and/or anaesthesia or sedation suitable under field conditions, with the aim to alleviate pain due to castration in piglets. A randomised within-litter design, with 50 replicates, compared 7 treatments applied 10 min before castration: HAND: positive control, handling only; CTRL: negative control, physiological saline, i.m.; MEL: meloxicam, i.m.; AZA: azaperone, i.m.; PROC: local anaesthesia with procaine and adrenaline, subcutaneously; AZA-MEL: joint administration of azaperone and meloxicam; PROC-MEL: procaine and meloxicam. Efficacy of pain relief was assessed during a 180 min period after castration by serum cortisol and glycaemia, algometry and behaviour. CTRL, AZA, PROC and AZA-MEL piglets showed an increase in cortisol concentration 60 min after castration compared to HAND. Both groups with azaperone (AZA and AZA-MEL) developed concentrations even higher than CTRL (p .05). CRTL and PROC piglets reacted to the algometer at an average lower pressure than HAND (p =.03), differently to the other treatments that showed similar skin sensitivity to HAND (p >.05). No differences in glycaemia and behaviour were observed among treatments. The results suggest that using meloxicam alone might offer a promising option in reducing the expression of pain-related parameters in piglets after surgical castration, however, it appears more efficient when used alone than in association with the anaesthetic agents tested. Procaine administered alone and azaperone seems unsuited to the purpose considered.HIGHLIGHTS Meloxicam used alone is suggested for reducing the expression of pain-related parameters in piglets after surgical castration; When a protocol using procaine is used on the farm during piglets castration, the association with meloxicam reduces some pain-related indicators; Procaine administered alone and azaperone seems unsuited to manage pain after surgical castration of piglets

The use of different adhesive filling material and mass combinations to restore class II cavities under loading and shrinkage effects: a 3D-FEA

3D tooth models were virtually restored: flowable composite resin + bulk-fill composite (A), glass ionomer cement + bulk-fill composite (B) or adhesive + bulk-fill composite (C). Polymerization shrinkage and masticatory loads were simulated. All models exhibited the highest stress concentration at the enamel-restoration interfaces. A and C showed similar pattern with lower magnitude in A in comparison to C. B showed lower stress in dentine and C the highest cusps displacement. The use of glass ionomer cement or flowable composite resin in combination with a bulk-fill composite improved the biomechanical behavior of deep class II MO cavities

The use of different adhesive filling material and mass combinations to restore class II cavities under loading and shrinkage effects: a 3D-FEA

3D tooth models were virtually restored: flowable composite resin + bulk-fill composite (A), glass ionomer cement + bulk-fill composite (B) or adhesive + bulk-fill composite (C). Polymerization shrinkage and masticatory loads were simulated. All models exhibited the highest stress concentration at the enamel–restoration interfaces. A and C showed similar pattern with lower magnitude in A in comparison to C. B showed lower stress in dentine and C the highest cusps displacement. The use of glass ionomer cement or flowable composite resin in combination with a bulk-fill composite improved the biomechanical behavior of deep class II MO cavities

A study of the average effect of the 3'APOB-VNTR polymorphism on lipidemic parameters could explain why the short alleles (<35 repeats) are rare in centenarians

BACKGROUND: In studies on the genetics of human aging, we observed an age-related variation of the 3'APOB-VNTR genotypic pool (alleles: Short, S, <35 repeats; Medium, M, 35–39 repeats; Long, L, >39 repeats) with the homozygous SS genotype showing a convex frequency trajectory in a healthy aging population. This genotype was rare in centenarians, thus indicating that the S alleles are unfavorable to longevity, while common in adults, thus indicating a protective role at middle age. This apparent paradox could be due to possible effects exerted by the above polymorphism on lipidemic parameters. Aim of the work was to get insights into these puzzling findings METHODS: We followed a double strategy. Firstly, we analyzed the average effects of S (α(S)), M (α(M)), and L (α(L)) alleles on lipidemic parameters in a sample of healthy people (409 subjects aged 20–102 years) recruited in Calabria (southern Italy). The (α(S)), (α(M)), and (α(L)) values were estimated by relating 3'APOB-VNTR genotypes to lipidemic parameters, after adjustment for age, sex and body mass index (multiple regression). Then, we analyzed the S alleles as susceptibility factors of Cardiovascular Atherosclerotic Disease (CD) in CD patients characterized either by low serum HDL-Cholesterol or by high serum LDL-Cholesterol (CD-H and CD-L patients, 40 and 40 subjects respectively). The Odds Ratios (OR) were computed for carriers of S alleles in CD-H and CD-L patients matched for origin, sex and age with controls extracted from the sample of healthy subjects. RESULTS: By the analysis of the healthy sample group we found that the S alleles lower the average values of serum Total Cholesterol (α(S )= -5.98 mg/dL with [-11.62 ÷ -0.74] 95% confidence interval) and LDL-Cholesterol (α(S )= -4.41 mg/dL with [-8.93 ÷ -0.20] 95% confidence interval) while the alleles M and L have no significant effect on the lipidemic phenotype. In line with these findings, the analysis of CD patients showed that the S alleles are protective as for CD-L (O.R. = 0.55 with [0.21 ÷ 0.98] 95% confidence interval) while neutral as for CD-H (O.R. = 0.75 with [0.32 ÷ 1.60] 95% confidence interval). CONCLUSION: On the whole, the S alleles would be advantageous in adults (by protecting from CD-L) while dangerous in the elderly, probably by lowering serum cholesterol below a critical threshold. This could explain the convex frequency trajectory of SS genotypes previously observed in a healthy aging population

A methodology for the customization of hinged ankle-foot orthoses based on in vivo helical axis calculation with 3D printed rigid shells

This study aims to develop techniques for ankle joint kinematics analysis using motion capture based on stereophotogrammetry. The scope is to design marker attachments on the skin for a most reliable identification of the instantaneous helical axis, to be targeted for the fabrication of customized hinged ankle-foot orthoses. These attachments should limit the effects of the experimental artifacts, in particular the soft-tissue motion artifact, which affect largely the accuracy of any in vivo ankle kinematics analysis. Motion analyses were carried out on two healthy subjects wearing customized rigid shells that were designed through 3D scans of the subjects’ lower limbs and fabricated by additive manufacturing. Starting from stereophotogrammetry data collected during walking and dorsi-plantarflexion motor tasks, the instantaneous and mean helical axes of ankle joint were calculated. The customized shells matched accurately the anatomy of the subjects and allowed for the definition of rigid marker clusters that improved the accuracy of in vivo kinematic analyses. The proposed methodology was able to differentiate between subjects and between the motor tasks analyzed. The observed position and dispersion of the axes were consistent with those reported in the literature. This methodology represents an effective tool for supporting the customization of hinged ankle-foot orthoses or other devices interacting with human joints functionality