Unveiling changes in rhizosphere-associated bacteria linked to the genotype and water stress in quinoa.

Drought is among the main abiotic factors causing agronomical losses worldwide. To minimize its impact, several strategies have been proposed, including the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPBs), as they have demonstrated roles in counteracting abiotic stress. This aspect has been little explored in emergent crops such as quinoa, which has the potential to contribute to reducing food insecurity. Thus, here we hypothesize that the genotype, water environment and the type of inoculant are determining factors in shaping quinoa rhizosphere bacterial communities, affecting plant performance. To address this, two different quinoa cultivars (with contrasting water stress tolerance), two water conditions (optimal and limiting water conditions) and different soil infusions were used to define the relevance of these factors. Different bacterial families that vary among genotypes and water conditions were identified. Certain families were enriched under water stress conditions, such as the Nocardioidaceae, highly present in the water-sensitive cultivar F15, or the Pseudomonadaceae, Burkholderiaceae and Sphingomonadaceae, more abundant in the tolerant cultivar F16, which also showed larger total polyphenol content. These changes demonstrate that the genotype and environment highly contribute to shaping the root-inhabiting bacteria in quinoa, and they suggest that this plant species is a great source of PGPBs for utilization under water-liming conditions.

Effect of Lactoferrin on Clinical Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: The LAC Randomized Clinical Trial.

As lactoferrin is a nutritional supplement with proven antiviral and immunomodulatory abilities, it may be used to improve the clinical course of COVID-19. The clinical efficacy and safety of bovine lactoferrin were evaluated in the LAC randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. A total of 218 hospitalized adult patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 were randomized to receive 800 mg/die oral bovine lactoferrin (n = 113) or placebo (n = 105), both given in combination with standard COVID-19 therapy. No differences in lactoferrin vs. placebo were observed in the primary outcomes: the proportion of death or intensive care unit admission (risk ratio of 1.06 (95% CI 0.63-1.79)) or proportion of discharge or National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) ≤ 2 within 14 days from enrollment (RR of 0.85 (95% CI 0.70-1.04)). Lactoferrin showed an excellent safety and tolerability profile. Even though bovine lactoferrin is safe and tolerable, our results do not support its use in hospitalized patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19.

A single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of river buffalo stearoyl CoA desaturase gene (SCD) is associated with milk yield.

An association study between the milk yield trait and the stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) polymorphism (g.133A > C) in Italian Mediterranean river buffalo was carried out. A full characterization of the river buffalo SCD promoter region was presented. Genotyping information was provided and a quick method for allelic discrimination was developed. The frequency of the C allele was 0·16. Test-day (TD) records (43 510) of milk production belonging to 226 lactations of 169 buffalo cows were analysed with a mixed linear model in order to estimate the effect of g.133A > C genotype, as well as the effect of parity and calving season. The SCD genotype was significantly associated with milk yield (P = 0·02). The genotype AC showed an over-dominance effect with an average daily milk yield approximately 2 kg/d higher than CC buffaloes. Such a difference represents about 28% more milk/d. The effect of the genotype was constant across lactation stages. The contribution of SCD genotype (r(2)SCD) to the total phenotypic variance in milk yield was equal to 0·12. This report is among the first indications of genetic association between a trait of economic importance in river buffalo. Although such results need to be confirmed with large-scale studies in the same and other buffalo populations, they might offer useful indications for the application of MAS programmes in river buffalo and in the future they might be of great economic interest for the river buffalo dairy industry.

[Traumatic rupture of the pancreatic isthmus complicated by concomitant rupture of the duodenum and right kidney]. / Rottura traumatica dell'istmo pancreatico complicata da rotture concomitanti del duodeno e del rene destro.

The Authors describe a case of complete traumatic transection of the pancreatic isthmus associated with complete transection of the first portion of the duodenum and the isthmus of a horseshoe kidney. The treatment of the pancreatic lesion was intestinal drainage of the distal portion of the pancreas and closure of the proximal one. The authors stress the advantages and good outcome of the conservative operation, performed at an early stage, with the clinical indications and adequate surgical techniques.

[Gastrin-secreting neuroendocrine carcinoma: two cases identified and treated surgically with a radio-guided technique]. / Carcinoma neuroendocrino a secrezione gastrinica: due casi identificati e trattati chirurgicamente con tecnica radioguidata.

The authors present two cases of gastrin-producing carcinoma demonstrated by scintigraphy with In-111 pentetreotide. The possible malignant evolution of such tumours and the good results that can be achieved with surgical therapy suggest the usefulness of a radio-guided intraoperative strategy to locate the lesions and minimise invasive procedures. This approach enabled us to detect a lymph-node metastasis concealed in the adipose tissue in the first case and to exclude any other gastrin-producing tumour localisations in the second. We recommend that the radio-guided strategy should be included among the guidelines for the treatment of gastrinomas and believe that the procedure can also be used in other functioning endocrine tumours.

[Colonic perforation after colonoscopy: our experience]. / Perforazioni del colon a seguito di colonscopia: nostra esperienza.

The authors describe 6 cases of perforation during colonoscopy, occurring over the period from 1981 to 2001, out of a total of 7358 endoscopic examinations performed. Five of these perforations were found as complications of operative colonoscopy. In one case the endoscopic view of the omentum immediately revealed the perforation. Four patients underwent surgical treatment and in two cases medical therapy was implemented. In agreement with the literature, the authors stress that the management of iatrogenic colon perforations is quite difficult and depends upon the clinical features. While conservative treatment is indicated in minimal perforations in patients in good general condition with no signs of peritoneal irritation, surgery must be performed in all uncertain situations. A delay in performing surgical treatment may sometimes prove fatal.

[Bleeding small bowel angiodysplasia: unusual form of conservative treatment]. / Angiodisplasia sanguinante del tenue: un insolito trattamento conservativo.

The authors report a case of gastrointestinal bleeding caused by angiodysplasia of the small bowel. They stress the rarity of the lesion and consider the difficulties involved in obtaining a preoperative diagnosis. Intra- or pre-operative enteroscopy seems to be the most suitable method for identifying the source of occult small-bowel bleeding. The optimal management is uncertain and depends on the severity and rate of the bleeding. A conservative medical approach is indicated for many patients, while surgery constitutes definitive treatment in cases of massive haemorrhage or recurrent bleeding. The authors describe a case in which the diagnosis was reached only at intra-operative enteroscopy and an unusual conservative surgical treatment was performed based on ligation of the vascular elements of the angiodysplasia. This method makes it possible to avoid an intestinal resection and yields good results.

[Complicated diverticular disease of the right colon. Diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties: our experience]. / Malattia diverticolare complicata del colon destro. Difficoltà diagnostico-terapeutiche: nostra esperienza.

Right colon diverticulitis is an uncommon disease in Western countries. Often the disease is congenital and the clinical manifestations presenting at onset simulate the signs and symptoms typical of other diseases, such as acute appendicitis, appendicular abscess or caecal carcinoma. Since the diagnosis is usually intraoperative, diverticulectomy is recommended only in particular cases, with no complications resulting from inflammatory reactions. In the other cases, right hemicolectomy or segmental resection are the elective surgical treatments, depending on the patient's clinical condition and on the local anatomical situation. The authors describe 8 cases of complicated right colon diverticulitis, one of which with haemorrhagic complications, observed over the period from January 1999 to March 2003. The rareness and diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties of this disease are emphasised.

[Acute torsion of the greater omentum: a case report]. / Torsione acuta del grande omento: descrizione di un caso.

Taking as their starting point a case of greater omental torsion recently observed in their surgical department, the authors carefully review the relevant literature data and the aetiological, pathogenetic, clinical and diagnostic aspects which make this rare disease hard to identify preoperatively. They stress that resorting to laparotomy is a rational course of action even if laparoscopy today constitutes an effective diagnostic and therapeutic option.