Uptake of different pharmaceuticals in soil and mycorrhizal artichokes from wastewater.

The irrigation with treated wastewater is among the main anthropogenic sources for the release of pharmaceuticals (PhACs) into the soils and their translocation into crops, with possible toxic and adverse effects on humans. The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can be employed for the reduction of organic soil pollutants, even if their efficiency depends on the mycorrhizal fungi, the plant colonized, and the type and concentration of the contaminant. This study aimed to evaluate the uptake of PhACs from wastewaters of different qualities used for the irrigation of mycorrhizal artichoke plants, the presence in their edible parts and the role of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The research was carried out on artichoke plants not inoculated and inoculated with two different AMF and irrigated with treated wastewater (TW), groundwater (GW) or GW spiked with different and selected PhACs (SGW). The inocula were a crude inoculum of Septoglomus viscosum (MSE) and a commercial inoculum of Glomus intraradices and Glomus mosseae (MSY). The results of the present study showed that carbamazepine and fluconazole were found in the artichoke only with SGW irrigation. The mycorrhizal plants showed a reduction of the pharmaceutical's uptake, and within the AMF, MSE was more effective in preventing their absorption and translocation.

Bioherbicidal Potential of the Essential Oils from Mediterranean Lamiaceae for Weed Control in Organic Farming.

In all farming systems, weeds are the most expensive pest to manage, accounting for 30% of potential losses. In organic farming, the problem may be further amplified by restrictions on herbicides, thus making weeds the main problem faced by organic farmers in the field. In this sense, much research is focusing on the allelopathic potential of plants as an ecological weed control tool. Many plant species can release allelopathic compounds with high phytotoxicity that can be used in weed control. Species belonging to the Lamiaceae family have been studied widely for this purpose, and their essential oils (EOs) appear to be promising bioherbicides. However, there are still many challenges for their development. Considering these aspects, a review of the bioherbicidal effect of EOs from Mediterranean Lamiaceae could help identify the most effective ones and the challenges for their actual development.

Ultrasound-guided external jugular vein cannulation for central venous access by inexperienced trainees.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The insertion of central venous catheters via the external jugular vein (EJV) is not always practical because of the relatively frequent failure rate; thus, the internal jugular approach is generally used. Data from the literature suggest that ultrasound-guided catheterization of the internal jugular vein is superior to the surface anatomy landmark technique and, therefore, should be the method of choice. We evaluated the value of ultrasound guidance in the learning process of central venous cannulation via EJV by similarly inexperienced trainees. METHODS: In this prospective randomized study, 60 patients were assigned to two groups: group SA (surface anatomy; n = 30) underwent insertion of the central venous catheter using landmark guidance and group US (ultrasound; n = 30) underwent insertion using ultrasound guidance. In all patients, catheter insertion through the right EJV was performed by trainees in their second year of training. Ultrasound guidance was carried out by the same ultrasound specialist. The following parameters were evaluated in all patients: the number of successful punctures of the right EJV, the total number of attempts and the time to vein puncture; the number of successful insertions of the central venous catheter, the number of attempts and the duration of catheterization (from puncture of EJV to external fixation of the catheter); and the incidence of complications. The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee, and all patients gave written informed consent. Data were expressed as mean +/- SD. Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test and chi2-test were used for analysis and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The power of the study was 85%. RESULTS: The EJV puncture was successful in 24 out of 30 (80%) patients from group SA and in 22 out of 30 (73%) patients from group US (P = NS). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding the mean time to perform the vein puncture and the number of attempts. The insertion of the central venous catheter was performed successfully in 10 (33%) patients from group SA and six (20%) patients from group US. The success rate of central cannulation via the EJV approach was 10 out of 24 (42%) in group SA and six out of 22 (27%) in group US (P = NS). The total time for insertion and the number of attempts were similar in both groups (P = NS). Local haematoma occurred in 11 patients in group SA and in three patients in group US (P = NS). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate no significant differences between the conventional surface anatomy landmark technique and the ultrasound-guided technique for the insertion of a central venous catheter via EJV by inexperienced trainees.

Large-Scale Plant Production of Lycium barbarum L. by Liquid Culture in Temporary Immersion System and Possible Application to the Synthesis of Bioactive Substance.

Goji (Lycium barbarum L.) has recognized nutritive and antioxidant properties and many products are commercialized for health in food market. Besides its food use, goji has been the subject of more than 2000 years of traditional Chinese medicine, using berries, root bark, and leaves. Here, the potential of the liquid culture in temporary immersion system (TIS) by using the bioreactor PlantformTM was tested for the large-scale production of high-quality goji shoots and the subsequent production of total phenols and flavonoids. The three tested immersion cycles differently influenced the shoot quality in terms of proliferation and hyperhydricity. The best immersion cycle (time and frequency) was proven to have the shortest daily immersion time (6 min every 24 h) which ensured good levels of relative growth and multiplication rate, very limited onset of hyperydricity, and the longest shoots, promoting direct rooting after only 30 days of culture. In comparison with the semisolid culture, the TIS culture resulted in an increase of the total phenolic content (TPC) and in a lower value of the total flavonoid content (TFC). However, considering the higher quantity of biomass produced in the PlantformTM bioreactor, the difference in terms of TFC productivity between semisolid medium and TIS liquid culture was proven to be statistically equivalent.

An evaluation of a new approach to the regeneration of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don, and the molecular characterization of the variation among sets of differently derived regenerants.

A protocol for the induction of regeneration from leaves of Helichrysum italicum was established. Calli were found to form on the basal medium only when it was supplemented with thidiazuron (TDZ) alone or in combination with naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), with a percentage ranking of at least 80%. The hormone-free medium showed the highest percentage of shoot regeneration (62%) even though no callus formed. AFLP markers were employed to verify tissue culture-induced variation in the regenerated plantlets obtained by direct shoot regeneration or the indirect shoot regeneration process (callus formation). Seven out of the eleven AFLP primer pairs yielded polymorphic patterns. The average number of fragments per primer pair was 64.1. Singletons were represented by 12 (2.7%) fragments. Student's T-test was performed both on the average number of shared fragments and on the nucleotide diversity, and no significant statistical difference was observed between the two regeneration treatments.

In vitro micropropagation and mycorrhizal treatment influences the polyphenols content profile of globe artichoke under field conditions.

The commercial importance of plant tissue culture has grown in recent years, reflecting its application to vegetative propagation, disease elimination, plant improvement and the production of polyphenols. The level of polyphenols present in plant tissue is influenced by crop genotype, the growing environment, the crop management regime and the post-harvest processing practice. Globe artichoke is a significant component of the Mediterranean Basin agricultural economy, and is rich in polyphenols (phenolic acids and flavones). Most commercially grown plants are derived via vegetative propagation, with its attendant risk of pathogen build-up. Here, a comparison was drawn between the polyphenol profiles of conventionally propagated and micropropagated/mycorrhized globe artichoke plants. Micropropagation/mycorrhization appeared to deliver a higher content of caffeoylquinic acids. The accumulation of these compounds, along with luteolin and its derivatives, was not season-dependent. Luteolin aglycone was accumulated preferentially in the conventionally propagated plants. Overall, it appeared that micropropagation/mycorrhization enhanced the accumulation of polyphenols.

Essential oil diversity of Origanum vulgare L. populations from Southern Italy.

Essential oils (EOs) belonging to 25 wild populations of Origanum vulgare L. samples, growing wild in different locations of Calabria Region (Southern Italy), were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The quantitative and qualitative data showed EO concentrations ranging from 0.96 to 5.10% and 37 compounds detected, representing more than 80% of the total composition of the oils. By applying hierarchical cluster analysis on the basis of the EO constituents, two main groups and three subgroups were found, reflecting the variation in the chemical composition of EOs from wild oregano populations. The first group consisted of acyclic (linalool/linalyl acetate) chemotypes with a predominant presence of linalyl acetate; the second was characterized by chemotypes rich in cymyl-compounds, mainly carvacrol, thymol and γ-terpinene. The data obtained contribute to broaden the inventory of wild oregano populations from Calabria to plan programs for the selection of chemotypes with new and specific uses.