Fire frequency effects on cleistogamy expression and progeny performance in Cologania broussonetii.

Increased fire frequency usually erodes microenvironmental conditions, causing a drastic limitation of edaphic resources. Thus, the production of permanently closed-small flowers (cleistogamous, CL) should increase in sites with high fire frequency as this implies a less expensive reproductive assurance strategy. However, because open, insect-pollinated flowers (chasmogamous, CH) have the potential capacity to outcross via pollinators, CH progeny produced at any site should outperform selfed CL progeny. We evaluate the effect of fire frequency on the relative production of CL/CH flowers and fruits, and their seed set, along with several progeny performance parameters in Cologania broussonetii (Fabaceae), a resprouting herb with dimorphic cleistogamy native to the Chaco Serrano. Fire frequency increased cleistogamy expression, reaching extreme levels in high fire frequency sites. Seed set was similarly high for both CH and CL flowers in the unburned condition, while in burned sites the few developed CH flowers set more seeds than CL flowers. However, progeny performance was similar between CH and CL progeny at each and across all fire frequency conditions. Cleistogamy expression in C. broussonetii is maximized in abiotically degraded frequently burned habitats, although the selfed CL progeny is as successful as potentially outcrossed CH progeny. Fire frequency may decreased floral size and abundance, selecting for autogamous reproduction, which restricts not only the genetic potential of plant populations but also the resources offered to pollinators. At the community level, increased cleistogamy expression may potentially have negative implications for non-cleistogamous, more outcrossing species surviving in frequently burned environments.

Paediatric HUS Cases Related to the Consumption of Raw Milk Sold by Vending Machines in Italy: Quantitative Risk Assessment Based on Escherichia coli O157 Official Controls over 7 years.

A quantitative risk assessment (RA) was developed to estimate haemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) cases in paediatric population associated with the consumption of raw milk sold in vending machines in Italy. The historical national evolution of raw milk consumption phenomenon since 2008, when consumer interest started to grow, and after 7 years of marketing adjustment, is outlined. Exposure assessment was based on the official Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC) microbiological records of raw milk samples from vending machines monitored by the regional Veterinary Authorities from 2008 to 2014, microbial growth during storage, consumption frequency of raw milk, serving size, consumption preference and age of consumers. The differential risk considered milk handled under regulation conditions (4°C throughout all phases) and the worst time-temperature field handling conditions detected. In case of boiling milk before consumption, we assumed that the risk of HUS is fixed at zero. The model estimates clearly show that the public health significance of HUS cases due to raw milk STEC contamination depends on the current variability surrounding the risk profile of the food and the consumer behaviour has more impact than milk storage scenario. The estimated HUS cases predicted by our model are roughly in line with the effective STEC O157-associated HUS cases notified in Italy only when the proportion of consumers not boiling milk before consumption is assumed to be 1%. Raw milk consumption remains a source of E. coli O157:H7 for humans, but its overall relevance is likely to have subsided and significant caution should be exerted for temporal, geographical and consumers behaviour analysis. Health education programmes and regulatory actions are required to educate people, primarily children, on other STEC sources.

Reduction of Corky Root Infections on Greenhouse Tomato Crops by Soil Solarization in South Italy.

Five greenhouse experiments were conducted in southeastern Sicily (Italy) from 2000 to 2009 to evaluate the effectiveness of soil solarization in reducing natural infections of tomato corky root caused by Pyrenochaeta lycopersici. Tests were performed with clear, traditional, and innovative plastic films and fumigant applications. In all the trials, soil solarization was effective in controlling corky root disease relative to an untreated control. Although inducing different thermal regimes in the soil, the use of different greenhouse covering and mulching films for solarization proved effective in reducing corky root severity relative to the untreated control. Solarization reduced infections caused by P. lycopersici comparable with methyl bromide fumigation and greater than metham sodium and metham potassium. Among the tested films, green coextruded film may be most attractive because it can be left on after solarization as mulch.

Impression cytology in Down's syndrome.

AIM: To evaluate both the number and the average distribution of goblet cells, which are responsible for the production of the mucin layer of the tear film, in the bulbar conjunctiva of patients with Down's syndrome. Previous research had used the ferning test to indicate an alteration in Down's syndrome, but had not determined which film layer was involved. METHODS: The presence of goblet cells in the bulbar conjunctiva of 30 subjects (15 with Down's syndrome, and 15 normal control subjects) was evaluated using impression cytology. RESULTS: A marked reduction of goblet cells was found in the Down's syndrome group (81.4 per mm2) when compared with the control group, where (209.8 per mm2) was found. CONCLUSION: The deficit observed appears to be the cause of the tear film alterations observed in Down's syndrome. In turn, this may often lead to the formation of dry spots, and to consequent frequent infections of the anterior segment of the eye. While it is further hypothesised that the alteration of the conjunctival epithelium in Down's syndrome may be due to an altered metabolism of some element or elements, such as vitamin A, further research will be necessary to corroborate this.

B-scan echographic measurement of endobulbar foreign bodies.

Echography plays an important role in symptomatology investigations of ocular traumatology. Trauma causes the opacification of eye fluids, and so echography is particularly suitable for studying the endobulbar situation. We wished to enrich ocular investigations with another methodology: ultrasonic evaluation of the dimensions of intraocular foreign bodies, and report here the results obtained with experimental studies introducing foreign bodies into enucleated bovine eyes.

Ferning test in Down's syndrome.

The tear film was evaluated by the ferning test. We tested tear film in right and left eye on 28 subjects (total 56 eyes), of whom 14 were affected by Down's syndrome, age range 18 to 35 years. The results obtained show that there exists an alteration of the tear ferning in subjects affected by Down's syndrome. We did not find any difference between the right or left eye in each individual. This anomaly could be responsible for frequent infectious pathologies found in the anterior eye segment in these subjects.

Effects of dimethylformamide (DMF) on coagulation and platelet activity.

The effects of dimethylformamide (DMF) on hemostatic functions, especially on platelet activity, were examined both in vitro and in vivo in 15 workers exposed to DMF (27 mg/m3, median value). Twenty-eight control subjects who were not exposed to DMF, but comparable for age, anthropometric data, and smoking habits, were also studied. Workers exposed to DMF showed a decrease in the number of platelets and had longer coagulation times, probably due to a change caused by DMF on the membrane receptor of platelets and on the phospholipid components of the clotting system.

[Changes induced by dimethylformamide on platelet function and coagulation activity]. / Modificazioni indotte da dimetilformamide (DMF) sulla funzionalita' piastrinica e sull'attivita' coagulativa.

The effect of Dimethylformamide on platelet function and on clotting system has been studied on eight workers exposed to the product, widely used in industry as a solvent of acrylic resins. A significant reduction of the number of the platelets and a drawing out of PTT and PT has been noticed. Such informations has been explained as chronical peripheral use or as modification of phospholipid components induced by DMF instead of synthesis defect, as no significant variation of the fibrinogen and of AT III values, proteins synthetized by liver, has been observed. The platelet aggregation has pointed out, in vivo, a reduction of ADP aggregation in the exposed subjects; in vitro, increasing quantities have determined an increasing reduction of the primary ADP and adrenaline aggregation.

[Platelet aggregation and resistance to osmotic shock of platelet concentrates obtained by discontinuous-flow cell separation with the surge pump technic]. / Aggregazione piastrinica e resistenza allo shock osmotico di concentrati piastrinici ottenuti mediante separatore cellulare a flusso discontinuo con la tecnica "surge pump".

We studied the ultrastructural morphology and function of platelets collected by apheresis procedure with discontinuous flow using the Surge Pump Technique. The platelet concentrates obtained by this technique are free of erythrocyte and lymphocyte contamination. The platelet morphology as well as the platelet aggregation induced by ADP, adrenaline and collagen of platelet concentrates were similar to those observed in PRP before the apheresis. The response to the hypotonic shock of platelet concentrates was also normal, indicating membrane integrity and good platelet metabolism. These results show that platelet concentrates obtained by the Surge Pump Technique maintain their haemostatic effects and may be infused in thrombocitopenic patients, reducing the risk of alloimmunization related to the presence of erythrocytes and lymphocytes.