Shearing influences the milk fatty acid profile of dairy ewes

In Mediterranean areas shearing is commonly performed during late spring and, therefore, ewes may be exposed to cold stress especially during the night. Short-term periods of cold exposure can increase hepatic glucose production, decrease insulin secretion and increase fat catabolism and plasma non-esterified free fatty acids (NEFA) concentration. These metabolic adaptations to cold exposure can increase the mammary uptake of long-chain fatty acid from plasma. The present study aimed to investigate the metabolic response of dairy ewes to shearing by monitoring their milk fatty acid (FA) profile. Twelve 2-4-year-old Sarda ewes, in mid-late lactation, were used. The trial lasted from 30th May to 9th June 2006. The pre-experimental period (pre-shearing, PrS) was from 30th May to 5th June (shearing day), being followed by the experimental period (post-shearing, PoS) until 9th June. On shearing day, the flock was divided in two groups (6 ewes each) which were then managed differently: non-confined group (NCG) and confined group (CG) which was kept in a sheepfold during the night. Four samplings during PrS and other four during PoS periods were performed. During the trial, ewes were fed concentrate at 1000g/d per head, during the two daily milking, and hay ad libitum, and grazed on green clover (3h/day). Daily milk production was recorded and daily milk samples were collected for analysis of fat content and FA profile. Shearing did not influence milk yield but increased significantly milk fat content (6.37 vs. 6.94% for PrS and PoS, respectively; P<0.01). Ewes confinement during the night did not affect milk yield and its fat content. Shearing modified significantly the FA profile of milk. The concentration of C8, C10, C12 and C16 increased significantly from PrS to PoS. On the other hand, the content of long-chain FA (>C18:0) did not change between PrS and PoS (46.26 vs. 46.40mg/100g of FAME, respectively). These results suggest that the increase of milk fat after shearing was related to the increase of the main FA synthesized by the mammary gland. However, the unexpected increase in the synthesis of short- and medium-chain FA after shearing suggests that these animals were not subjected to cold stress. Therefore, the mechanism involved in the modification of the FA profile caused by shearing in dairy ewes should be elucidated

Moltiplicazione in vitro di <i>Salvia desoleana</i> Atzei e Picci

The Salvia desoleana Atzei and Picci is an endemic species of the Sardinia, perennial, evergreen, with lignified epigeo stock. It is one camefita and, after a short period of rest, it emits, from gems in first 20-30 cm of the stalk, coppers that shall flowering in spring-summer. The cultivated plants persist for numerous years. The parts of the plant used for the extraction of essential oils are the inflorescenze and leaves, time of collection on July. To the plant, the following propriety have been ascripted: antipiretyc, antispasmodic, astringent, hypertensive, stimulating and tonic; coleretic property; peripheral analgesic activity, antiinflammatory activity, antimicrobic property and some depressing effects on the centraI nervous system. It has been demonstrated that it induces apoptosys. It has been performed a study of approach to the adaptability to the cultivation in vitro of the species, in order to carry out the propagation of a high number of plants. The substrates use you in the experimentation were base on basal salts and vitamins of Murashige and Skoog. Lengthening of the buds in cultivation has been taken pIace on an substrates. Formation of callus to the base of the explants has been observed in NAA and 6BA; multiplication on substrates containing NAA and 6BA or IBA. The observed factor of multiplication is of 2-3 new buds for bud in cultivation in the first month, increased to 20 in the second month. It has been induced formation of roots in the buds in cultivation on containing substrate IAA

Evaluation of Borderline Ovarian Tumor Recurrence Rate after Surgery with or without Fertility-Sparing Approach: Results of a Retrospective Analysis

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) comprise 15-20% of primary ovarian neoplasms and represent an independent disease entity among epithelial ovarian cancers. The present study (Clinical Trial ID: NCT05791838) aimed to report a retrospective analysis of the management and outcomes of 86 consecutive BOTs patients, 54 of which were at a reproductive age. All patients with BOTs undergoing surgical treatment from January 2010 to December 2017 were included. Data were retrospectively reviewed. High levels of Ca-125 were observed in 25.6% of the FIGO stage I patients and 58.3% of the advanced disease patients. Fertility-sparing surgery and comprehensive surgical staging were performed in 36.7% and 49.3% of the patients, respectively. Laparotomy was the most frequent surgical approach (65.1%). The most common diagnosis at frozen sections was serous BOT (50.6%). Serous BOTs have significantly smaller tumor diameters than mucinous BOTs (p &lt; 0.0001). The mean postoperative follow-up was 29.8 months (range 6-87 months). Three patients experienced a recurrence, with an overall recurrence rate of 3.5% (10% considering only the patients who underwent fertility-sparing treatment). BOTs have low recurrence rates, with excellent prognosis. Surgery with proper staging is the main treatment. Conservative surgery is a valid option for women with reproductive potential

Haplotype affinities resolve a major component of goat (<i>Capra hircus</i>) MtDNA D-loop diversity and reveal specific features of the Sardinian stock

Goat mtDNA haplogroup A is a poorly resolved lineage absorbing most of the overall diversity and is found in locations as distant as Eastern Asia and Southern Africa. Its phylogenetic dissection would cast light on an important portion of the spread of goat breeding. The aims of this work were 1) to provide an operational definition of meaningful mtDNA units within haplogroup A, 2) to investigate the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of diversity by considering the modes of selection operated by breeders and 3) to identify the peculiarities of Sardinian mtDNA types. We sequenced the mtDNA D-loop in a large sample of animals (1,591) which represents a non-trivial quota of the entire goat population of Sardinia. We found that Sardinia mirrors a large quota of mtDNA diversity of Western Eurasia in the number of variable sites, their mutational pattern and allele frequency. By using Bayesian analysis, a distance-based tree and a network analysis, we recognized demographically coherent groups of sequences identified by particular subsets of the variable positions. The results showed that this assignment system could be reproduced in other studies, capturing the greatest part of haplotype diversity. We identified haplotype groups overrepresented in Sardinian goats as a result of founder effects. We found that breeders maintain diversity of matrilines most likely through equalization of the reproductive potential. Moreover, the relevant amount of inter-farm mtDNA diversity found does not increase proportionally with distance. Our results illustrate the effects of breeding practices on the composition of maternal gene pool and identify mtDNA types that may be considered in projects aimed at retrieving the maternal component of the oldest breeds of Sardinia.</br

Do Tuscan people adhere to meningococcal C vaccination during an emergency campaign?

Introduction: Tuscany region (Italy) recorded a rise in the number of meningococcal disease cases between January 2015 and February 2016,(52 cases) compared to 2014(16 cases). The aim of this study was to describe the emergency meningococcal C (MenC) vaccination programme in Tuscany and the population’s adherence to the activities performed in the Local Health Unit (LHU) of Florence.Methods:The MenC vaccination programme and the planning of the prevention and communication activities were analysed in the LHU of Florence. As an indicator of population’s adherence, the vaccination coverage (VC)during the emergency campaignwas investigated and adverse drug reactions (ADR) surveillance was reported.Results:The communication campaign included a dedicated toll-free telephone number, press releases (newspapers, radio, television, websites), and informative letters addressed to mayors, secondary schools, and sports associations. Citizens aged 11–20 years were the primary target of the campaign. Due to the high incidence of cases among older people, the vaccination was extended to subjectsover 45 years. The population’s adherence to the vaccination campaignwas satisfactory: VC reached 47.1%for the primary target. The ADR reporting rate (3.1/10,000) on meningococcal disease in our study confirmed the safety of the vaccination.Conclusions:In 2017, only 10 IMD cases were reported, suggesting the effectiveness of the immunization campaign. Similar VC during emergency MenC vaccination programmes have been reached in other Italian regions and other EU countries, too.The achievement of greater vaccination coverage is restricted by a sentiment of hesitancy towards vaccines among the general population

Haplotype Affinities Resolve a Major Component of Goat (Capra hircus) MtDNA D-Loop Diversity and Reveal Specific Features of the Sardinian Stock

Goat mtDNA haplogroup A is a poorly resolved lineage absorbing most of the overall diversity and is found in locations as distant as Eastern Asia and Southern Africa. Its phylogenetic dissection would cast light on an important portion of the spread of goat breeding. The aims of this work were 1) to provide an operational definition of meaningful mtDNA units within haplogroup A, 2) to investigate the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of diversity by considering the modes of selection operated by breeders and 3) to identify the peculiarities of Sardinian mtDNA types. We sequenced the mtDNA D-loop in a large sample of animals (1,591) which represents a non-trivial quota of the entire goat population of Sardinia. We found that Sardinia mirrors a large quota of mtDNA diversity of Western Eurasia in the number of variable sites, their mutational pattern and allele frequency. By using Bayesian analysis, a distance-based tree and a network analysis, we recognized demographically coherent groups of sequences identified by particular subsets of the variable positions. The results showed that this assignment system could be reproduced in other studies, capturing the greatest part of haplotype diversity

Recent results on heavy-ion induced reactions of interest for neutrinoless double beta decay at INFN-LNS

Abstract. The possibility to use a special class of heavy-ion induced direct reactions, such as double charge exchange reactions, is discussed in view of their application to extract information that may be helpful to determinate the nuclear matrix elements entering in the expression of neutrinoless double beta decay halflife. The methodology of the experimental campaign presently running at INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Sud is reported and the experimental challenges characterizing such activity are describe

Characteristics and patterns of care of endometrial cancer before and during COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has correlated with the disruption of screening activities and diagnostic assessments. Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies and it is often detected at an early stage, because it frequently produces symptoms. Here, we aim to investigate the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on patterns of presentation and treatment of EC patients. Methods: This is a retrospective study involving 54 centers in Italy. We evaluated patterns of presentation and treatment of EC patients before (period 1: March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020) and during (period 2: April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021) the COVID-19 outbreak. Results: Medical records of 5,164 EC patients have been retrieved: 2,718 and 2,446 women treated in period 1 and period 2, respectively. Surgery was the mainstay of treatment in both periods (p=0.356). Nodal assessment was omitted in 689 (27.3%) and 484 (21.2%) patients treated in period 1 and 2, respectively (p&lt;0.001). While, the prevalence of patients undergoing sentinel node mapping (with or without backup lymphadenectomy) has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic (46.7% in period 1 vs. 52.8% in period 2; p&lt;0.001). Overall, 1,280 (50.4%) and 1,021 (44.7%) patients had no adjuvant therapy in period 1 and 2, respectively (p&lt;0.001). Adjuvant therapy use has increased during COVID-19 pandemic (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Our data suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the characteristics and patterns of care of EC patients. These findings highlight the need to implement healthcare services during the pandemic