Evaluating the impact of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus in Trentino (Alps, Northern Italy): first investigations

The spread of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus has been causing great concern regarding the survival of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) throughout Europe since the 1990s. The disease was first recorded in Trentino (southern Alps, Italy) in 2012 and has spread throughout the mountain landscape, where ash trees are scattered in small and isolated stands in different valleys. The status of the disease was checked by monitoring the damage to natural regeneration and adult trees in 90 sites spread over the whole region. The survey confirmed the complete colonization by the pathogen of the whole investigated area, with high levels of damage to both young and adult ash trees. Regeneration (both seedlings and saplings) was observed to be affected by the fungus in 88 plots out of 90. Out of 4486 examined young European ashes, 2261 (50.4%) were affected and 789 (17.6%) were already dead. Ten of the 384 assayed flowering ashes (Fraxinus ornus) showed symptoms on branches and apical stems, similar to those observed for European ash. Isolation and molecular analysis proved the presence of the fungus on both symptomatic European and flowering ashes. The examined 386 adult trees showed different levels of damage, sometimes reaching more than 75% of the crown. Some individual trees (42) growing close to severely damaged trees appeared fully healthy, which suggests the possible existence of some resistant/tolerant individuals in the examined populations

Functional characterization and structure-guided mutational analysis of the transsulfuration enzyme cystathionine γ-lyase from toxoplasma gondii

Sulfur-containing amino acids play essential roles in many organisms. The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii includes the genes for cystathionine β-synthase and cystathionine γ-lyase (TgCGL), as well as for cysteine synthase, which are crucial enzymes of the transsulfuration and de novo pathways for cysteine biosynthesis, respectively. These enzymes are specifically expressed in the oocyst stage of T. gondii. However, their functionality has not been investigated. Herein, we expressed and characterized the putative CGL from T. gondii. Recombinant TgCGL almost exclusively catalyses the α,γ-hydrolysis of L-cystathionine to form L-cysteine and displays marginal reactivity toward L-cysteine. Structure-guided homology modelling revealed two striking amino acid differences between the human and parasite CGL active-sites (Glu59 and Ser340 in human to Ser77 and Asn360 in toxoplasma). Mutation of Asn360 to Ser demonstrated the importance of this residue in modulating the specificity for the catalysis of α,β-versus α,γ-elimination of L-cystathionine. Replacement of Ser77 by Glu completely abolished activity towards L-cystathionine. Our results suggest that CGL is an important functional enzyme in T. gondii, likely implying that the reverse transsulfuration pathway is operative in the parasite; we also probed the roles of active-site architecture and substrate binding conformations as determinants of reaction specificity in transsulfuration enzymes

Congenital hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma associated with mesenchymal stem villous hyperplasia of the placenta: case report

A newborn with an unusual association of hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma and mesenchymal stem villous hyperplasia of the placenta is presented. At birth, the large hepatic mass caused severe respiratory distress necessitating early surgical intervention. This report on the association of hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma and mesenchymal stem villous hyperplasia of the placenta strongly suggests a common pathogenetic origin of the 2 lesions

Case Report: Unusual Clinical Presentation of a Rare Cardiac Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor in Children: The Differential Diagnosis With Pediatric Emergencies

Introduction: There are still no guidelines about pediatric cardiac cancers. The purpose of this work is to provide new scientific data facilitating the differential diagnosis of a rare cardiac tumor with an unusual presentation, such as the cardiac inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT). Case Presentation: A 3-year-old male child presented with several symptoms including unconsciousness, vomiting, and drowsiness. A clinical and neurological examination revealed a unilateral (right) motor delay and positive unilateral Babinski sign. Electrocardiogram (ECG) was normal. Diagnostic Assessment: The total body computed tomography (CT) scans showed hypodensity in the left temporal\u2013parietal lobe, a large hypodense area in the right frontal lobe, and a second area in the left frontal lobe were found with head CT. A magnetic resonance (MR) also noted cerebral areas of hypointensity. The echocardiographic images revealed an ovoid mass, adherent to the anterolateral papillary muscle. The histological exams, performed with hematoxylin\u2013eosin, Masson's trichrome, Alcian blue PAS, Weigert and Van-Gieson stain, allowed observing the microscopic structure of the neoplastic mass. The immunohistochemical analysis was performed through subsequent antibodies: anti-vimentin, anti-actina, anti-ALK, anti-CD8, anti-CD3, anti-CD20, anti-kappa and lambda chains, and anti CD68 antibodies. The healthcare professionals diagnosed a cardiac IMT with brain embolism. Differential Diagnosis: The ventricular localization, observed through radiological exams, required a differential diagnosis with fibroma and rhabdomyoma, the presence of brain embolism with sarcoma, and its morphology with fibroma. Neurological symptoms might be attributed to encephalitis, primitive cerebral cancer, such as astrocytoma or neuroblastoma, cerebral metastases due to any malignancy, or embolic stroke. Conclusion: New studies are encouraged to better define IMT behavior and draw up guidelines confirming the crucial role of multidisciplinary approach and treatment protocol selected on the basis of the characteristics of the tumors, in the case of this rare type of cancer

Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Infection and New Insights About Correlation Between Pro-inflammatory Markers and Heart Failure: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Surgical approaches to treat patients with abnormal pro-inflammatory parameters remain controversial, and the debate on the correlation between hematological parameter alteration in cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection and the increase in mortality continues. Methods: We performed a systematic review using the PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. Twenty-two articles from May 2007 to April 2020 were selected and divided according to the following topics: prevalence of microbes in patients with CIED infection; characteristics of patients with CIED infection; comparison between patients who underwent and did not undergo replantation after device extraction; and correlation between alteration of hematological parameters and poor prognosis analysis. Results: Epidemiological analysis confirmed high prevalence of male sex, staphylococcal infection, and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). The most common comorbidity was heart failure. Complete removal of CIED and antimicrobial therapy combination are the gold standard. CIED replacement was associated with higher survival. High preoperative white blood cell count and C-reactive protein levels increased the risk of right ventricular failure (RVF) development. Increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW) value or decreased platelet count was correlated with poor prognosis. No correlation was noted between preoperative leukocytosis and CIED infection

Cryptostroma corticale: malattia della corteccia fuligginosa dell'acero

Le segnalazioni di questa malattia che colpisce il genere Acer sono in crescita in tutta Europa. La sua recrudescenza pare legata al riscaldamento del clima. Oltre a portare a morte le piante e a comprometterne la stabilità meccanica, il fungo ascomicete che ne è causa, Cryptostoma corticale, minaccia la salute umana producendo una grande quantità di spore aeree che possono causare gravi infiammazioni polmonari

Boschi di neoformazione in Italia: approfondimenti conoscitivi e orientamenti gestionali

Nelle regioni meridionali, e in Sicilia in particolare, la fisionomia della vegetazione forestale post-abbandono è quella della macchia o arbusteto che difficilmente evolve verso un bosco propriamente detto. Il processo evolutivo della vegetazione spesso non raggiunge lo stadio di bosco non perché le condizioni ambientali non lo consentano ma per due ragioni fondamentali: i disturbi, in particolare gli incendi e il pascolo, e le limitazioni nell’arrivo di propaguli, causate dalla mancanza di piante madri, dei dispersori dei semi o entrambi. Infatti, in contesti favorevoli (assenza di disturbi e arrivo dei propaguli) la vegetazione evolve sino al bosco. Le formazioni preforestali frutto dei processi di successione secondaria occupano superfici significative e sono conseguenza del fenomeno dell’abbandono dell’agricoltura iniziato alla seconda metà del secolo scorso e che ha interessato tutta l’Europa. Alcune azioni per ridurre i fattori negativi ed esaltare invece i vantaggi ambientali sono possibili per i boschi degli ambienti mediterranei. Tra queste, la trasformazione dei boschi di neoformazione in sistemi agroforestali, e più propriamente silvopastorali, utilizzando la parte aerea delle specie arboree e arbustive e mantenendo piccoli nuclei di specie spontanee utili alla fauna selvatica (a esempio, specie con frutti carnosi) senza lasciare che esse dominino la vegetazione erbacea. Ciò consentirebbe una valorizzazione delle superfici innanzitutto come pascoli, ma non si esclude l’utilizzazione come legna da ardere della componente arborea e, in certi casi, dei prodotti ottenibili (a esempio, manna, mandorle, carrube, nocciole). Altra possibilità per non disperdere i vantaggi consisterebbe nel mettere a coltura gli ex coltivi adottando tecniche alternative che non disperdano il carbonio accumulato. Su questo aspetto esistono già esperienze: ciò potrebbe inoltre ridurre la conflittualità tra gli enti gestori delle aree protette, restii a consentire un ritorno alla coltivazione, e gli agricoltori nonché i sostenitori della necessità di tutelare i paesaggi agrari