Echinacea purpurea microbiota: bacterial-fungal interactions and the interplay with host and non-host plant species in vitro dual culture.

Important evidence is reported on the antimicrobial and antagonistic properties of bacterial endophytes in Echinacea purpurea and their role in the modulation of plant synthesis of bioactive compounds. Here, endophytic fungi were isolated from E. purpurea, and the dual culture approach was applied to deepen insights into the complex plant-microbiome interaction network. In vitro experiments were carried out to evaluate the species specificity of the interaction between host (E. purpurea) and non-host (E. angustifolia and Nicotiana tabacum) plant tissues and bacterial or fungal endophytes isolated from living E. purpurea plants to test interactions between fungal and bacterial endophytes. A higher tropism towards plant tissue and growth was observed for both fungal and bacterial isolates compared to controls without plant tissue. The growth of all fungi was significantly inhibited by several bacterial strains that, in turn, were scarcely affected by the presence of fungi. Finally, E. purpurea endophytic bacteria were able to inhibit mycelial growth of the phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea. Bacteria and fungi living in symbiosis with wild Echinacea plants interact with each other and could represent a potential source of bioactive compounds and a biocontrol tool.

Development of an experimental facility for the study of microparticle initiated radio frequency vacuum breakdown.

An ongoing objective in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) systems is the improvement of power coupling to the plasma. During the last decade, this goal has been mainly pursued through the study of the coupling resistance, either by optimizing the antenna layout or by tailoring the scrape-off layer profile with gas puffing. Another approach is to increase the voltage handling capability of the ICRF system, limited by breakdown in the launchers or in the transmission lines. This paper describes the design of the ICRF Breakdown EXperiment (IBEX), a device to investigate fundamental aspects of radio frequency arcs under ICRF-relevant conditions. IBEX can achieve a peak voltage of 48 kV at 54 MHz with a 5 kW input power.

The resistance to contraceptive use in young Italian women.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the personal relationship and social factors that influence young women not to use contraceptives. METHODS: A total of 104 young women aged 14-23 years were studied using a 26-item questionnaire which was to be filled out individually. The questionnaire addressed use of contraceptives at the first intercourse and current use, together with various items related to age, educational level, self-image, fantasy about parenthood, and characteristics of the relationships with the partner and the family. A descriptive analysis and a multivariate logistic regression model investigated the relationship between contraceptive non-use and selected variables. RESULTS: Twenty-four percent of the girls did not use any effective contraceptive method at the first sexual intercourse and 21% were current non-users. The study of characteristics associated with inconsistent contraceptive use shows a complex picture where young age, poor knowledge of the partner, an older partner and living in a incomplete family nucleus or outside the family represent significant risk factors. Considering our results as a whole, contraceptive non-use is not only a marker of risk-taking behavior, but sometimes expresses irrational feelings which emerge when facing new sexual experience.

Pleiotropic effect of the insertion of the Agrobacterium rhizogenes rolD gene in tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.).

The Agrobacterium rhizogenes rolD gene, coding for an ornithine cyclodeaminase involved in the biosynthesis of proline from ornithine, has been inserted in Lycopersicon esculentum cv Tondino with the aim of studying its effects on plant morphological characters including pathogen defense response. The analysis of plants transgenic for rolD did not show major morphological modifications. First generation transgenic plants however were found to flower earlier, and showed an increased number of inflorescences and higher fruit yield. Transformed plants were also analysed for parameters linked to pathogen defense response, i.e. ion leakage in the presence of the toxin produced by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, and expression of the pathogenesis-related PR-1 gene. All the plants harbouring the rolD gene were shown to be more tolerant to the toxin in ion leakage experiments, with respect to the untransformed regenerated controls and the cv Tondino. PR-1 gene expression was quantitated by means of real-time PCR both at the basal level and after treatment with salicylic acid, an inducer of Systemic Acquired Resistance. In both cases the amount of PR-1 mRNA was higher in the transgenic plants. It seems therefore that the transformation of tomato plants with rolD could lead to an increased competence for defense response, as shown by toxin tolerance and increased expression of the Systemic Acquired Resistance marker gene PR-1. The results are finally discussed in view of their possible economic relevance.

Prevalence and pattern of cognitive impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with and without overt neuropsychiatric manifestations.

The prevalence and pattern of cognitive impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with (NPSLE) and without (nSLE) overt neuropsychiatric manifestations were investigated. Fifty-two nSLE patients, 23 NPSLE patients and 27 healthy controls were evaluated with a battery of standardized neuropsychological and psychological tests. Disease duration, disease activity index, and current corticosteroid therapy were collected. Cognitive impairment was identified in 14 (26.9%) and in 12 (52.2%) of subjects with nSLE and NPSLE, respectively. Both SLE groups showed a significant impairment compared with controls on tasks assessing verbal and non-verbal long-term memory, and visuoconstructional abilities. In addition, NPSLE patients reported worse performances than both nSLE patients and controls on task evaluating short-term visuospatial memory. NPSLE subjects were significantly more anxious and depressed compared to both nSLE subjects and controls. By multivariate analysis, only depression levels, among clinical variables, significantly predicted cognitive performance. This study shows that cognitive impairment occurs frequently in both nSLE and NPSLE subjects. The higher frequency in NPSLE may be related to coexisting depressive disturbances.

Maximizing the potential of your systems.

In the last two decades, manufacturing businesses throughout the United States have learned that the most important way to ensure the maximum potential of their manufacturing systems when implementing manufacturing resource planning is how they approach the implementation itself--not just their choice of or expenditure for software.

Maximizing the potential of your systems.

In the last two decades, manufacturing businesses throughout the United States have learned that an important factor affecting the productivity of their manufacturing systems when implementing manufacturing resource planning is the way they approach the implementation itself. Eighty percent of an implementation effort needs to be devoted to preparing people in the organization to use the system and only 20 percent should be devoted to purchasing the system.

Sensitization to cockroach in Italy: a multicentric study.

The prevalence of sensitization to cockroach (CR) was evaluated by skin prick test (SPT) in 1299 patients consecutively referred for rhinitis and asthma to five allergy centers in northern, central, and southern Italy. In patients with positive SPT to CR, an SPT with D. pteronyssinus extract was made. RAST inhibition was performed with pooled sera of subjects with positive SPT and RAST of at least Class 3 for CR and D. Pteronyssinus, to assess the cross-reactivity between these two allergenic sources. The protein content of allergen extracts was assayed by isoelectric focusing (IEF). A total of 170 patients (13%) had a positive SPT with CR extract, and 133 of them (78.2%) were also positive for D. pteronyssinus. RAST inhibition showed a cross-reactivity between CR and D. pteronyssinus, and IEF detected in the extracts employed a series of bands focusing at the same pI of CR and D. pteronyssinus relevant allergens. Therefore, the prevalence of sensitization to CR in the population studied, corresponding to 13%, suggests that CR extract might be added to standard SPT panels for respiratory allergy. However, the cross-reactivity with D. pteronyssinus calls for careful evaluation of the clinical importance of this sensitization.

Single-step PCR in molecular diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection.

The diagnostic utility of two PCR systems and three PCR detection methods for hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA was evaluated in serum samples. A nested PCR was considered the reference assay and was compared with two single-step PCR methods: the first is based on the detection of PCR products by liquid hybridization with a 32P-end-labeled probe, and the second is the Roche Amplicor colorimetric assay using microwell plate hybridization with a specific nucleic acid probe. Using the Pelicheck HCV RNA Eurohep genotype 1 proficiency panel, our laboratory achieved medium-high levels of performance with all three methods. The highest sensitivity was, however, observed with the isotopic single-step PCR (ss-PCR) method. The analytical sensitivity of ss-PCR with isotopic detection and ss-PCR with colorimetric detection was identical to that of nested PCR, with a 100% result concordance. Comparison of ss-PCR with enzyme-linked immunosorbent and RIBA assays in the analysis of clinical samples showed a high concordance. ss-PCR methods appear more suitable for diagnostic application. Nevertheless, HCV RNA PCR cannot be considered a screening assay; it should be requested in the presence of reactive serology or specific clinical symptomatology with altered liver parameters, and it is a potential tool for the follow-up of patients with HCV infection.

[Anorectal manometry in hemorrhoidal disease]. / La manometria anorettale nella malattia emorroidaria.

Manometry is an important approach to anorectal function. In the haemorrhoids the evaluation of the anal resting tone, of the squeeze and of the sphincterial length is very useful to realize the best surgical treatment. Anorectal manometry is neither invasive nor expensive; it can be ready repeated and the results are reproducible. This examination must be considerated as essential part of the diagnostic routine of the anorectal diseases.

[Submucosal reconstructive hemorrhoidectomy (A.G. Parks operation)]. / L'emorroidectomia sottomucosa ricostruttiva (operazione di A.G. Parks).

Indications and procedure of submucosal reconstructive hemorrhoidectomy (A.G. Parks hemorrhoidectomy) are described and discussed. This procedure is more difficult and time consuming than other techniques, but results are better in high degree hemorrhoids. Authors consider complications and sequelae on 278 patients operated in their Department.

[When to combine internal sphincterotomy with hemorrhoidectomy]. / Quando associare la sfinterotomia interna all'emorroidectomia.

396 patients, treated with hemorrhoidectomy (278 Parks, 118 Milligan-Morgan) were submitted to preoperative manometry, which, in 158 patients (39.9%), revealed high anal resting pressure (TBS), with or without an associated anal fissure; this group was submitted to a regulated lateral sphincterotomy (SILR) in association with the haemorroidectomy. The manometric follow-up, two mounts after the operations showed similar TBS values in both groups of patients. The authors conclude that normal values of TBS after Hemorroidectomy can be reached only by associating sphincterotomy in manometrically selected cases.

Genome flux in tomato auto- and auxo-trophic cell clones cultured in different auxin/cytokinin equilibria. I. DNA multiplicity and methylation levels.

An analysis of the effect of changing physiological conditions on genetic stability, in terms of epigenetic changes, such as DNA, methylation patterns, and multiplicity of repetitive DNA, was carried out on tomato cell clones grown on media supplemented with different auxin/cytokinin ratios. The effect of endogenous variation in phytohormone equilibria was also indirectly analysed through a comparison of auxotrophic or habituated (autotrophic) cell clones and the differentiated leaf tissue. The data obtained showed significant variation in methylation and multiplicity levels both between clones and between treatments, clearly suggesting a contemporary influence of exogenous hormonal treatments and of the initial/endogenous physiological state of the treated tissue on both phenomena studied.

Asthma caused by live fish bait.

BACKGROUND: Larvae of insects and worms are commonly used as live fish bait (LFB) by anglers. Asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and urticaria related to various kinds of LFB have been reported. METHODS: We studied 14 subjects with respiratory symptoms associated with exposure to LFB. Skin prick tests and RASTs with Lucilia caesar, Galleria mellonella, and Tenebrio molitor extracts were carried out in all subjects. Monitoring of peak expiratory flow rate and evaluation of bronchial responsiveness to methacholine before and after exposure to LFB were performed in seven subjects. RESULTS: Thirteen subjects had asthma, all 14 had rhinoconjunctivitis, and three had contact urticaria. Eleven subjects had respiratory symptoms after fishing with LFB, and the other three subjects had symptoms during their work in a commercial fish bait farm. Positive skin prick test results or significant RAST binding to L. caesar extract were observed in 13 subjects, to G. mellonella extract in four subjects, and to T. molitor extract in three subjects. After exposure to LFB, two subjects had an early asthmatic response, three had a late asthmatic response, and two had no asthmatic response. Late asthmatic response was associated with a long-lasting increase in bronchial responsiveness. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that emanations from LFB are sensitizers, which have the potential to elicit IgE-mediated asthma. Exposure to LFB is common and LFB should be considered as a possible sensitizing agent for asthma.

Modification of competence for in vitro response to Fusarium oxysporum in tomato cells. II. Effect of the integration of Agrobacterium tumefaciens genes for auxin and cytokinin synthesis.

We have studied the effect of a change in the endogenous hormone equilibria on the competence of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cells to defend themselves against the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Calluses from cvs 'Davis' and 'Red River', respectively resistant and susceptible to Fusarium and transgenic for an auxin- or cytokinin-synthesizing gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens, were used. The integration of Agrobacterium hormone-related genes into susceptible cv 'Red River' can bring the activation of defense processes to a stable competence as assessed by the inhibition of mycelial growth in dual culture and gem-tube elongation of Fusarium conidia, the determination of callose contents, peroxidase induction and ion leakage in the presence of fusaric acid. This is particularly true when the transformation results in a change of phytohormone equilibria towards an higher cytokin in concentration. On the contrary, in resistant cv 'Davis' the inhibition of both fungal growth in dual culture and conidia germination is higher when the hormone balance is modified in favour of the auxins. No significant effect was observed for ion leakage and peroxidase induction, probably because of a constitutive overproduction of cytokinins in 'Davis' cells.