Microbial diversity and dynamics of Pecorino di Filiano PDO, a traditional cheese of Basilicata region (Southern Italy).

The evolution of microbial populations of ‘Pecorino di Filiano’ (PF) cheese was investigated during ripening in natural cave and storeroom. 62.5% of isolates grow at 45 and 15 C and 77.7% showed high salt concentrations tolerance. Brevibacterium linens was dominant in surface samples. Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei were more frequently isolated both surface and core samples, while Leuconostoc lactis and Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides prevailed among Leuconostoc isolates. Our results suggest the importance of the ripening environment of cheeses and how a biological ecosystem affects and produces the typical features of artisanal products

Adaptive changes in geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase gene expression level under ethanol stress conditions in Oenococcus oeni.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ethanol exposure on the expression level of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase gene involved in the metabolism of Oenococcus oeni to probe the mechanisms of ethanol tolerance correlated with adaptive changes. Methods and Results: The evaluation of ten potential internal control genes and the comparative study of their stability were performed to select the most stable internal controls for the normalization of expression data. The expression level analysis by qPCR and changes after exposure to ethanol stresses highlighted a significant increase in the presence of higher ethanol concentrations. Conclusions: The analysis of results suggest that O. oeni adjusts the expression of genes to adapt to stress conditions and the high expression level of ggpps would allow a flow of isoprenoid precursors towards the carotenoids and related pathways to stabilize bacterial cell membranes, improving the cell membrane disturbances and preventing cell death induced by ethanol. Significance and Impact of the Study: The involvement of ggpps gene in physiological changes of bacterial behaviour confirmed the exposure to stress requires the activation of defence mechanism to be more tolerant to adverse conditions. Improving the knowledge of stress tolerance and adaptation mechanisms of O. oeni is essential to enhance the efficiency of the malolactic starter in wine and to obtain the development of starters able to survive to direct inoculation with a large benefit for wine technology

Influence of autochthonous starter cultures on microbial dynamics and chemical-physical features of traditional fermented sausages of Basilicata region.

In this study, a combination of a Lactobacillus sakei strain and a Staphylococcus equorumstrain was used as autochthonous starter for an experimental production of Basilicata fermented sausages. The influence of starter addition on the safety and quality parameters and microbiological and chemical-physical properties of the products was investigated. Microbial counts of safety indicators were lower in the samples with the addition of starter culture, and, at the end of ripening, Enterobacteriaceae and Gram negative bacteria were detected only in samples made without the starter addition. The addition of starter led to a final product with better microbiological and chemical-physical features, and a positive effect on flavor and aroma compounds formation by a good proteolytic and lipolytic activities. The use of autochthonous starter cultures allows to obtain products with the organoleptic characteristics expected and steady in time and to standardize the production process, improving the safety and quality, but preserving the essential character of the product

Interfacially-Located Nanoparticles Anticipate the Onset of Co-Continuity in Immiscible Polymer Blends

The addition of nanoparticles has recently emerged as a clever tool to manipulate the microstructure and, through it, the macroscopic properties of immiscible polymer blends. Despite the huge number of studies in this field, the underlying mechanisms of most of the nanoparticle-induced effects on the blend microstructure remain poorly understood. Among others, the origin of effect of nanoparticles on the transition from distributed (drop-in-matrix) to co-continuous morphology is still controversial. Here we address this issue through a systematic study on a model blend of polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) filled with small amounts of nanoparticles (organo-modified clay) selectively located at the polymer–polymer interface. Extraction experiments with selective solvents prove that the nanoparticles significantly anticipate the onset of co-continuity with respect to the unfilled blend. Morphological analyses reveal that such an effect is a consequence of the interconnection of nanoparticle-coated polymer domains. Such “ginger-like” clusters get into contact at low content due to their irregular shape, thus anticipating the onset of co-continuity

Intellectual disabilitiy in developmental age

Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental dis- order characterized by deficits in intellectual and adap- tive functioning that present before 18 years of age [1]. ID is heterogeneous in etiology and encompasses a broad spectrum of functioning, disability, needs and strengths. Originally formulated in strictly psychometric terms as performance greater than 2.5 SDs below the mean on intelligence testing, the conceptualisation of ID has been extended to include defects in adaptive beha- viours [2]. The term-global developmental delay-(GDD) is usually used to describe children younger than 5-years of age who fail to meet expected developmental milestones in multiple areas of intellectual functioning [1]. In both conditions the symptoms must be present in the early developmental period, but they may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed patients’ capacities. ID affects 1.5 to 2% of the population in Western countries and represents an important health burden [3]. During the past decade, advances in genetic research have enabled genomewide discovery of chromosomal copy-number and single-nucleotide changes in patients with ID and autism as well as in those with other neu- rodevelopmental disorders. These technological advances-which include array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping arrays and massively parallel sequencing- have transformed the approach to the identification of etiologic genes and genomic rearrangements in the research laboratory and are now being applied in the clinical diagnostic arena [4]. In this view, the American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a guidance for the clinician in rendering Pediatric Care [5]. The sug- gested clinical approach to the patient should be con- ducted closely with a geneticist and includes the child’s medical history, the family history, the physical and neu- rologic examinations (emphasizing the dysmorphology examination) and the examination for neurologic or behavioral signs that might suggest a specific recogniz- able syndrome or diagnosis. After this clinical evalua- tion, focused use of genetic laboratory tests, imaging and other consultations are critical in establishing the right diagnosis, its pattern of inheritance and the subse- quent follow-up. Finally, this guidance highlights a renewed emphasis on array CGH, that is now considered the first-line diagnostic test for children who present with GDD/ID of unknown cause, and on the identification of-treatable-causes of GDD/ID with the recommendation to consider screening for inborn errors of metabolism [5]. The future use of whole-genome or next generation sequencing offers pro- mises and challenges needing to be yet addressed before their regular implementation in the clinic

Food protein induced enterocolitis syndrome caused by rice beverage

Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is an uncommon and potentially severe non IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergy. It is usually caused by cow’s milk or soy proteins, but may also be triggered by ingestion of solid foods. The diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical history and symptoms. Management of acute phase requires fluid resuscitation and intravenous steroids administration, but avoidance of offending foods is the only effective therapeutic option. Infant with FPIES presented to our emergency department with vomiting, watery stools, hypothension and metabolic acidosis after ingestion of rice beverage. Intravenous fluids and steroids were administered with good clinical response. Subsequently, a double blind placebo control food challenge (DBPCFC) was performed using rice beverage and hydrolyzed formula (eHF) as placebo. The “rice based formula” induced emesis, diarrhoea and lethargy. Laboratory investigations reveal an increase of absolute count of neutrophils and the presence of faecal eosinophils. The patient was treated with both intravenous hydration and steroids. According to Powell criteria, oral food challenge was considered positive and diagnosis of FPIES induced by rice beverage was made. Patient was discharged at home with the indication to avoid rice and any rice beverage as well as to reintroduce hydrolyzed formula. A case of FPIES induced by rice beverage has never been reported. The present case clearly shows that also beverage containing rice proteins can be responsible of FPIES. For this reason, the use of rice beverage as cow’s milk substitute for the treatment of non IgE-mediated food allergy should be avoided

Septal Nasal Extramedullary Plasmacytoma: A Rare Tumor in an Unusual Area

We present an extreme rare case of extramedullary nasal plasmacitoma that arise from nasal septum. The mass surgically removed was analyzed by a pathologist who diagnosed an extramedullary nasal plasmacytoma. The patient did not present systemic involvement. A short cycle of radiotherapy was performed after the surgery. At 9-month follow-up, the patient is recurrence free