PREPARATION OF B-CYCLODEXTRIN-THIABENDAZOLE-PIPERONYL BUTOXIDE SUPRAMOLECULAR COMPLEX AND ITS ACTIVITY AGAINST BLUE AND GREEN MOULD DECAY ON INOCULATED SATSUMA FRUIT.

The supramolecular complex of ß-cyclodextrin-thiabendazole-piperony butoxide (ßCD-TBZ/PBO) was prepared and its structure was characterized by 1H NMR. Additionally, the antifungal activity of ßCD-TBZ/PBO was investigated in comparison with the commercially available thiabendazole (TBZ) fungicide by in vitro tests and on artificially inoculated 'Okitsu' satsuma fruit dipped in water at 20 degrees C or at 50 degrees C to control postharvest blue (Penicillium italicum) and green mould (P. digitatum). ß-CD-TBZ/PBO is stable for several months when stored as powder in a dark bottle. At pH 7.0 the water solubility of the ßCD-TBZ/PBO complex was consistently higher than free TBZ. Water dip at 20 degrees C did not affect decay incidence caused by blue mould but favoured the development of green mould during 4-8 days of storage at 20 degrees C with respect to untreated (control) fruit. Water at 50 degrees C effectively reduced the incidence of blue mould and totally suppressed green mould during the first 4 days but lost its efficacy afterwards. By contrast, both TBZ and ßCD-TBZ/PBO had a lasting effect and were equally effective in controlling green and blue mould decay when applied at 20 degrees C and 60 mg L(-1) active ingredient (a.i.). When applied at 50 degrees C and 20 mg L(-1) a.i. the activity of the complex against blue mould was inferior than the corresponding treatment with TBZ. In vitro assays revealed a significant effectiveness of ßCD-TBZ/PBO complex at low concentration compared to commercial formulation of TBZ.

First Report of Asiatic Brown Rot Caused by Monilinia polystroma on Peach in Italy.

Monilinia spp. are well-known pathogens causing brown rot of fruit trees in many fruit production areas worldwide. In Italy, three Monilinia species are particularly significant with regard to fruit trees, causing blossom and twig blight and brown rot in fruits: Monilinia laxa (Aderhold and Ruhland) Honey, M. fructicola (Winter) Honey, and M. fructigena (Aderhold and Ruhland). In 2009, a new species, M. polystroma, was distinguished from M. fructigena based on morphological and molecular characteristics in Europe (3). M. polystroma is not known to occur in Italy and to date has been reported from the Czech Republic (1), Hungary (3), Poland (4), Serbia (5), and Switzerland (2). In July 2013, during a survey for fungal postharvest pathogens, stored peaches (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) belonging to different cultivars showing brown rot symptoms were observed in the Emilia Romagna and Sardinia regions of Italy. Typical decay spots were circular and brown, tending toward black, and 5% of peaches presented a large number of yellowish or buff-colored stromata and firm decayed tissues, the symptoms originated by M. polystroma. The pathogen was isolated on V8 agar (V8A) and culture plates were incubated at 25°C in darkness for 5 days. A conidial suspension was spread on malt extract agar (MEA) and single spores were selected. M. polystroma colonies grown on potato dexstrose agar (PDA) were yellowish in color. Irregular black stromatal crusts occurred on the edges of the colonies after 10 to 12 days of incubation and on the margin was present sporogenous tissue slightly elevated above the colony surface, color buff/pale luteous (1). The conidia were one-celled, ovoid or limoniform, smooth and hyaline, and 12 to 20 × 8 to 12 µm in distilled water when grown on V8A at 22°C. The ribosomal ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region was PCR-amplified from genomic DNA obtained from mycelium using primers ITS1 and ITS4. A BLAST search in GenBank revealed the highest similarity (99%) to M. polystroma sequences (GenBank Accession No. GU067539). Pathogenicity was confirmed using surface-sterilized mature 'Red Heaven' peaches. The fruits were wounded (2 × 2 × 2 mm) twice with a sterile needle and inoculated with 2-mm plugs of 7-day-old mycelia from fungal colony margins. The sample unit was represented by 10 fruits. Control fruits were inoculated with PDA. After 7 days of incubation at 20°C in plastic containers with high humidity, typical symptoms of brown rot developed on both the wounds of all inoculated fruits, while control fruits remained symptomless. By the 14th day, all fruits had rotted and the yellowish exogenous stromata appeared on the surface of infected peaches. The fungus isolated from inoculated fruit exhibited the same morphological and molecular features of the original isolates; the molecular analysis performed using the primers by Petroczy (3) confirmed the result of the PCR with ITS1 and ITS4 primers. To our knowledge, this is the first report of M. polystroma on peach in Italy. This is relevant because the new pathogen could spread into other European countries that are main peach producers (such as Spain), causing economic losses. Bringing it to the attention of the scientific community allows the arrangement of research studies for assessing potential resistances with a significant impact on disease control management. Further studies are necessary to determine geographic distribution, prevalence, and economic importance of this organism in Italy. References: (1) EPPO Reporting Service. 2011/134: First reports of Monilinia polystroma in Hungary and the Czech Republic. No. 6, 2011. (2) M. Hilber-Bodmer et al. Plant Dis. 96:146, 2012. (3) M. Petroczy and L. Palkovics. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 125:343, 2009. (4) A. Poniatowska et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 135:855, 2013. (5) M. Vasic et al. Plant Dis. 97:145, 2013.

Postharvest decay control of citrus fruit by preharvest pyrimethanil spray.

Preharvest infections or conidia load on fruit surface by Penicillium digitatum, P. italicum, Alternaria citri and other filamentous fungi can cause important postharvest losses of citrus fruit. Reduction in pruning frequency occurred in the last decade together with un-picked yield that eventually rots on the trees have increased the risk of postharvest decay especially when environmental conditions at picking time are favourable to pathogens' development. Sanitation procedures in the packinghouses, alternate use of postharvest fungicides with different modes of action, along with fungicide application before harvest could be an effective approach to minimize postharvest decay in citrus fruit. The present study investigated the effectiveness of a preharvest treatment with pyrimethanil (PYR), a broad spectrum fungicide, recently registered in different citrus-producing countries for postharvest treatments of citrus fruit and widely used worldwide as a preharvest treatment to control various diseases in different crops. PYR (750 mg/L) was sprayed by a hand-back sprayer at run-off on 'Fremont' mandarins. The day after the treatment, half of the trees were sprayed with a 10(4) conidial suspension of P. digitatum at run-off. Fruit were harvested following 2 or 4 weeks from treatments. Sound or either wounded 2-mm-deep and 2-mm-wide or superficial wound-scratched fruit were stored at 20 degrees C and 90% RH and inspected for decay after 1, 2 or 3 weeks of storage. In fruit harvested after 2 weeks from field treatment, PYR remarkably reduced decay development during two weeks of storage in sound fruit and in wound-scratched fruit and was fairly effective even after 4 weeks from treatment, but was ineffective in fruit wounded 2 mm deep and 2 mm wide. PYR was also effective in reducing preharvest decay incited by P. digitatum, P. italicum and Botrytis cinerea, but not by other pathogens. Results show that preharvest treatment with PYR could be a feasible approach to reduce postharvest chemical control of decay of citrus fruit.

Residue levels, persistence and effectiveness of imazalil against a resistant strain of penicillium digitatum when applied in combination with heat and sodium bicarbonate.

Green and blue molds, respectively caused by Penicillium digitatum Sacc., and P. italicum Wehmer, are the most important postharvest diseases of citrus fruit Postharvest management of these pathogens is mainly based on the application of thiabendazole (TBZ) or imazalil (IMZ) fungicides. However, their intensive and prolonged use has led to the selection of TBZ- IMZ-resistant strains of these pathogens and to a reduction of TBZ and IMZ effectiveness to control postharvest decay. However, while TBZ may become completely ineffective against TBZ-resistant strains of P. digitatum, reduction of IMZ efficacy is only partial, and an effective control of decay can still be achieved by increasing its concentration, heating the treatment-solution and/or combining IMZ with sodium bicarbonate (SBC) or other food additives or natural salts. In this study, 'Desiderio' and 'Nova' mandarins were inoculated with spores of a sensitive strain of P. digitatum to IMZ and TBZ (PDs) or with a strain of P. digitatum with double resistance to both fungicides (PDr) and immersed in IMZ or TBZ emulsions at increasing concentrations up to 1000 mg/L or in IMZ (25, 200 or 400 mg/L), SBC (0.5, 1 or 2%) or IMZ + SBC emulsions either at 20 or 40 degrees C. IMZ was superior to TBZ to control decay of 'Desiderio' mandarins incited by PDs and was also effective to control decay in fruit inoculated with PDr, while TBZ even at the highest rate was completely ineffective. In 'Desiderio' mandarins inoculated with PDs, a complete control of decay was achieved with 25 mg/L IMZ but in fruit inoculated with PDr, 25 mg/L IMZ were ineffective to control decay despite in combination with SBC at 2% a synergistic effect was detected. In contrast, a good control of decay was achieved with 400 mg/L IMZ. In 'Nova' mandarins after 1 week of incubation at 20 degrees C decay incidence in fruit dipped in 400 mg/L at 20 degrees C or 200 mg/L IMZ at 40 degrees C was almost completely inhibited, while the addition of SBC at 0.5, 1 or 2% did not improve treatments performance in fruit inoculated with PDs. However, when 'Nova' mandarins were inoculated with PDr, SBC showed a modest but significant control of decay and in combination with IMZ either at 400 mg/L and 20 degrees C or 200 mg/L and 40 degrees C, significantly improved decay control. SBC did not affect IMZ residue load in 'Valencia' oranges, whereas dipping the fruit in 400 mg/L IMZ at 20 degrees C produced similar IMZ residue load as dips at 200 mg/L IMZ at 40 degrees C. In all cases, residue levels of IMZ never exceeded 2 mg/kg, which is about 40% of the maximum residue limits (MRLs) allowed in European countries. Thus, despite the selection of IMZ-resistant strains of P. digitatum, IMZ continues to be highly effective to control green mold of citrus fruit at concentrations leaving on fruit surface residue levels below the MRLs.

Quality changes of 'Sanguinello' oranges wrapped with different plastic films under simulated marketing conditions.

Chemical and eating quality of citrus fruit changes slowly after harvest, and quality alteration is mainly due to shrinkage, loss of firmness, excessive weight loss and decay rather than a reduction of nutritional value and taste features. Film wrapping may be a suitable means to reduce transpiration and preserve market quality provided film permeability to gases does not lead to: 1) a reduction of in-package O2 partial pressure at a point that would induce anaerobic respiration; 2) an increase of CO2 concentration to toxic levels. This experiment was carried out to study quality changes of 'Sanguinello' oranges treated or not treated with 500 mg/L imazalil (IMZ) and wrapped with continuous, macro- or micro-perforated polyolefinic films. Wrapped and no-wrapped fruit were stored at 20 degrees C and 60% RH for 20 or 30 days. In-package gas composition of the macro-perforated film showed no significant difference compared to air composition, while in-package partial pressure of CO2 and O2 ranged between 4 (continuous film) and 9.8 kPa (micro-perforated films), and 14.8 (continuous film) and 5 kPa (micro-perforated films), respectively. After 30 days of storage weight loss in fruit wrapped with the macro-perforated film was (4.3%) slightly lowerthan un-packed fruit (5%), while in all other packages weight loss never exceeded 0.7%.Quality changes were quite stable over storage in all treatments, although slight but significantly lower levels of total soluble solids and ascorbic acid were detected in micro-perforated films with the lowest degree of perforation. However, the sensory analysis denoted a remarkable decrease of firmness in un-wrapped or wrapped fruit with macro-perforated film, while a moderate build-up of off-flavour, which reduced the eating quality, developed in micro-perforated films. Decay ranged between 6 and 12% in not treated fruit, with the lowest incidence detected in un-wrapped fruit, whereas differences among the different films were not significant. No decay was detected in fruit treated with IMZ. 'Sanguinello' oranges can be stored under retail conditions for a month by the only means of film wrapping without important changes in chemical, eating and marketing quality provided fruit are treated with an effective fungicide to prevent decay and that in-package gas composition is not markedly changed with respect to air.

Effect of different film packaging on microbial growth in minimally processed cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica).

Microorganisms are natural contaminants of fresh produce and minimally processed products, and contamination arises from a number of sources, including the environment, postharvest handling and processing. Fresh-cut products are particularly susceptible to microbial contaminations because of the changes occurring in the tissues during processing. In package gas composition of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) in combination with low storage temperatures besides reducing physiological activity of packaged produce, can also delay pathogen growth. Present study investigated on the effect of MAPs, achieved with different plastic films, on microbial growth of minimally processed cactus pear (Opuntio ficus-indica) fruit. Five different plastic materials were used for packaging the manually peeled fruit. That is: a) polypropylene film (Termoplast MY 40 micron thickness, O2 transmission rate 300 cc/m2/24h); b) polyethylene film (Bolphane BHE, 11 micron thickness, O2 transmission rate 19000 cc/m2/24h); c) polypropylene laser-perforated films (Mach Packaging) with 8, 16 or 32 100-micron holes. Total aerobic psychrophilic, mesophilic microorganisms, Enterobacteriaceae, yeast, mould populations and in-package CO2, O2 and C2H4 were determined at each storage time. Different final gas compositions, ranging from 7.8 KPa to 17.1 KPa O2, and 12.7 KPa to 2.6 KPa CO2, were achieved with MY and micro perforated films, respectively. Differences were detected in the mesophilic, Enterobacteriaceae and yeast loads, while no difference was detected in psychrophilic microorganisms. At the end of storage, microbial load in fruits sealed with MY film was significantly lower than in those sealed with BHE and micro perforated films. Furthermore, fruits packed with micro-perforated films showed the highest microbial load. This occurrence may in part be related to in-package gas composition and in part to a continuous contamination of microorganisms through micro-holes.

Individual and combined effects of postharvest dip treatments with water at 50 degrees C, soy lecithin and sodium carbonate on cold stored cactus pear fruits.

Objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of prestorage dip treatments at 20 degrees C or 50 degrees C alone or with sodium carbonate (SC) and soy lecithin (LEC), either individually or in combination, on weight losses, peel disorders, overall appearance and decay of cactus pears. Fruits were subjected to a simulated Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) disinfestation by cold quarantine at 2 degrees C for 21 days followed by one week of shelf-life at 20 degrees C. Hot water alone was very effective in reducing peel disorders and decay both during cold storage and shelf-life. SC applied at 20 degrees C showed a weak control of decay and chilling injury, while its effectiveness significantly increased when the solution temperature was set to 50 degrees C. LEC was more effective in preserving freshness during cold storage, but after shelf-life decay incidence in fruit dipped in LEC at 20 degrees C or 50 degrees C was higher than in those dipped in water at 20 degrees C or 50 degrees C, respectively. Significant but moderate differences were detected among treatments in weight loss. After shelf-life, fruit dipped in the heated mixture of SC and LEC showed the lowest incidence of peel disorders and the highest percentage of marketable fruit, although decay incidence was slightly higher than in fruit treated with SC at 50 degrees C. SC and LEC used in combination at 50 degrees C improved fruit tolerance to chilling injury and reduced decay.

Pre-harvest treatments with fungicides and post-harvest dips in sodium bicarbonate to control postharvest decay in stone fruit.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different commercial formulations of fungicides containing one or more active ingredients in controlling postharvest decay of Thyrinthos and Boccuccia apricots, Red top peaches and Caldesi nectarines. Field treatments consisted of two sprays with cupric compounds, at the end of leaf fall and before bud swelling, one with sulfur compound, at fruit about half final size stage, and one with one of the following commercial formulations at the label suggested rates, one week before harvest: Teldor (fenexamid 50%; Bayer Crop Protection), Folicur (Tebuconazole 4.35%; Bayer Crop Protection), Signum (boscalid 26.7%, pyraclostrobin 6.7%; Basf Crop Protection), Score (difenoconazole 23.23%, Syngenta Crop Protection) and Switch (cyprodinil 37.5%, fludioxonil 25%, Syngenta Crop Protection). After harvest the fruit were stored for 1 week at 6 degrees C and 90% RH followed by 1 week at 20 degrees C and 60% RH to simulate retail conditions, or placed directly at 20 degrees C. All formulations significantly reduced decay in all cultivars. Switch, Signum and Folicur were the most active, while Score was slightly less effective. Teldor activity was low, especially in Thyrintos apricots, where the percentage of rotten fruit was slightly lower than in control fruit. Brown rot was the most representative disease, but in apricots a high percentage of fruit was affected by blue mold and grey mold. Rhizopus rot generally developed as a secondary disease on fruit previously affected by other pathogens and was more frequent in control and Teldor treated fruit. Preharvest sprays with Signum 3 days before harvest reduced postharvest decay after 1 week storage at 20 degrees C in Glo haven peaches and Venus nectarine harvested at advanced stage of maturity. Combining pre-harvest sprays with Signum and a 2-min postharvest dip in 2% sodium bicarbonate at 20 degrees C further reduced decay. In Sothern regions of Italy, the use of synthetic fungicides only immediately before harvest in years when the weather conditions are not favorable to brown rot and other pathogens inducing postharvest decay, combined with a postharvest treatment with sodium bicarbonate could be a feasible integrated approach to reduce the risk of selection of resistant strains of fungi to synthetic fungicides while controlling effectively postharvest decay.

Phase III randomized study of fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide v fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide in advanced breast cancer: an Italian multicentre trial.

From February 1983 to January 1985, 497 patients with advanced breast cancer were randomly allocated to receive either epirubicin or doxorubicin in the following combination chemotherapy regimen: fluorouracil (5-FU) 500 mg/m2 intravenous (IV) on days 1 and 8; epirubicin or doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 IV on day 1; cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 IV on day 1 (FEC or FAC). Cycles were repeated every 21 days until progression or to cumulative doses of 700 mg/m2 for epirubicin and 550 mg/m2 for doxorubicin. Dose reductions were applied according to the standard criteria. Activity was evaluated in 443 patients (222 in the FEC arm and 221 in the FAC arm). The two experimental groups were comparable in age, performance status, menopausal status, histology, previous treatments, and site of the disease. The overall response rate (complete response and partial response [CR + PR]) was not significantly different: 53.6% for FEC and 56.5% for FAC. The median time to progression was 273 days for FEC and 314 days for FAC; the median survival time was 591 and 613 days, respectively. Leukopenia, anemia, nausea, and vomiting were significantly lower in patients treated with FEC. As for cardiotoxicity, four cases of congestive heart failure (CHF) were recorded among patients treated with FAC while only one was observed in the FEC group. These results indicate that epirubicin in a combination chemotherapy regimen is as active as doxorubicin and is significantly less toxic.

Effect of intracarotid injection of iopamidol on local cerebral glucose utilization in rat brain.

We assessed, by means of the [14C]-2-deoxy-D-glucose autoradiography method, the effect of intracarotid injection of a nonionic, low-osmolar contrast medium (iopamidol) on local cerebral glucose utilization in the rat brain. Contrast medium was injected at 20 degrees C and at 37 degrees C, and the relative changes in local cerebral glucose utilization were measured. At 20 degrees C the viscosity of the contrast agent was about twice that of the same solution at 37 degrees C, and resulted in a statistically significant increase in local cerebral glucose utilization in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the side of intracarotid infusion. Saline control studies showed that the metabolic change was not related to either the solution temperature or the osmolality. These findings suggest that increased viscosity of a contrast medium may contribute to its neurotoxic effects during cerebral angiography, hence emphasizing the importance of preheating contrast material to avoid adverse reactions.

Effect of whole brain radiation on local cerebral glucose utilization in the rat.

We assessed, by means of the [14C]-2-deoxy-D-glucose autoradiography method, the effect of whole-brain x-radiation on local cerebral glucose utilization in the rat brain. Animals were exposed to conventional fractionation (200 +/- 4 cGy/day, 5 days/week; total dose, 4000 cGy). Metabolic experiments were made 2 to 3 weeks after completion of the radiation exposure. In comparison with control and sham-irradiated animals, cerebral metabolic activity was diffusely decreased after irradiation. Statistically significant decreases in metabolic activity were observed in 13 of 27 brain regions studied. In general, the brain areas with the highest basal metabolic rates showed the greatest percentage of decrease in glucose utilization. The concept that radiation suppresses glucose utilization before any morphological change takes place in the cell structures was the basis of this study. Metabolic alterations after irradiation may explain the syndrome of early delayed deterioration observed in humans after whole-brain radiotherapy. These studies have applications to observations made with the [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose method in conjunction with positron emission tomographic scans in patients receiving radiation therapy for intracranial malignancies. The data reported here also have potential clinical implications for the evaluation of a risk/benefit ratio for radiotherapy in patients with benign neurosurgical diseases or children undergoing prophylactic treatment of the central nervous system.

Quantitative study of blood-brain barrier permeability changes after experimental whole-brain radiation.

Basic mechanisms underlying the tolerance and reaction of the central nervous system to ionizing radiation are not known precisely. We investigated the possibility of a change in blood-brain barrier (BBB) function as a causative factor for early delayed whole-brain radiation-induced cerebral dysfunction. Rats were exposed to conventional fractionation (200 cGy/d, 5 d/wk; total dose, 4000 cGy). BBB changes were assessed by means of the quantitative 14C-alpha-aminoisobutyric acid technique and electron microscopy. Studies of the passage of horseradish peroxidase across the BBB permitted comparative quantitative isotopical and qualitative morphological data. Experiments were carried out 2 to 3 weeks after the completion of the radiation exposure. The transport of 14C-alpha-aminoisobutyric acid across the BBB increased significantly in cerebral cortex and cerebellar gray matter, averaging 1.3 to 1.5 times over the normal values. Electron microscopy disclosed an intense vesicular response of the cortical microvascular endothelium that occurred without the opening of the tight junctions and resulted in an intense transport of HRP across the intact endothelium. The present data indicate that moderate doses of whole-brain radiation induce well-defined changes in BBB function, which possibly are involved in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced cerebral dysfunction in humans.

The effect of the calcium antagonist nimodipine upon local cerebral glucose utilization in the rat brain.

The new calcium antagonist Nimodipine has been shown to have more powerful dilator action on cerebral than peripheral vessels. The effect of the drug on cerebral metabolism was studied in conscious rats using the /14C/-2-deoxyglucose quantitative autoradiographic technique. Intravenous injection of Nimodipine, 2 mcg/Kg, determined significant increases in local cerebral glucose utilization that appeared to be homogeneous in magnitude and anatomic distribution throughout the brain. This study raises the question whether Nimodipine affects brain functions by other mechanisms than an increase in cerebral blood flow.

Effect of x-radiation to brain on cerebral glucose utilization in the rat.

We assessed, by means of the [14C]-2-deoxy-D-glucose autoradiography method, the effect of whole-brain x-radiation on local cerebral glucose utilization in the rat brain. Animals were exposed to conventional fractionation (200 +/- cGy/day given 5 days a week) to a total dose of 4000 cGy. Metabolic experiments were made 2 weeks after completion of the radiation exposure. In comparison with control and sham-irradiated animals, cerebral metabolic activity was diffusely decreased following irradiation. Statistically significant decreases in metabolic activity were observed in 13 of 27 brain regions studied. In general, brain areas with the highest basal metabolic rates showed the greatest percentage drop of glucose utilization. Post-irradiation metabolic alterations possibly provide an explanation for the syndrome of early delayed deterioration observed in humans after whole-brain radiotherapy.

Antiblastic treatment of advanced cervical carcinoma and its recurrences: assessment of four different polychemotherapies used for a decade.

Eighty-seven women with advanced cervical carcinoma were treated, in 10 years, with systemic antiblastic chemotherapy using 4 different regimens in 4 successive periods: first VBM, then MAB, CDDP and finally BMFt. Selection of a regimen different than the initial one aimed to obtain a better response and less toxicity. As a whole, 25% positive responses (CR and PR) and an SD which varied from 31.4% to 58.3% were obtained. Among the regimens used, the one with bleomycin, methotrexate and ftorafur had a response rate (OR + SD) of 75% which is higher than what was obtained with regimens VBM and MAB and is similar to CDDP. Less toxicity with greater compliance were shown.

[Immunohistochemical study on the presence of CEA in primary brain tumors. Preliminary note]. / Studio immunoistochimico sulla presenza del CEA nei tumori cerebrali primitivi. Nota preliminare.

The immuno peroxidase histochemical technique produced optic microscopic evidence of CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) in 19 out of 42 (42.25%) brain tumours including 12 astrocytomas, 6 glioblastomas and 1 ependymoma. The possibility of identifying CEA in such tumours is extremely interesting in view of the fact that CEA is currently the antigen most commonly studied and utilised in various types of non-cerebral cancers.

Influence of post-harvest treatments with fludioxonil and soy lecithin co-application in controlling blue and grey mould and fludioxonil residues in Coscia pears.

The residue levels of fludioxonil (FLU) were determined in Coscia pear following a 1-, 2- or 4-min dip in an aqueous mixture of FLU containing 300 or 100 mg l(-1) (active ingredient, a.i.) at 20 and 50 degrees C, respectively, with or without 2% soy lecithin. The efficacy of heat treatment with water and FLU mixtures was investigated on artificially inoculated pears for the control of post-harvest decay caused by blue (Penicillium expansum Link) and grey (Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr.) mould. Treatment with 300 mg l(-1) FLU at 20 degrees C increased residues significantly when treatment time rose from 1 to 2 min; no further increase was recorded when dip time raised from 2 to 4 min. FLU residue rates were unaffected by treatment time when 300 mg l(-1) a.i. was applied in combination with lecithin at 20 degrees C. While treatment with 100 mg l(-1) a.i. at 50 degrees C for 1 and 2 min resulted in similar residue levels, significantly higher residues were detected when dip time increased from 1 to 4 min. Co-application of lecithin significantly decreased FLU residues with respect to fruit treated with FLU alone. Treatments with FLU at 20 or 50 degrees C effectively controlled decay over 10 days of incubation. While co-application of lecithin did not affect the efficacy of FLU at 300 mg l(-1)and 20 degrees C, treatment efficacy decreased when lecithin was applied in combination with 100 mg l(-1) FLU and 50 degrees C for 4 min and to a greater extent when dip time was 1-2 min.

Effect of injections of contrast media on regional uptake of (14C)-2-deoxyglucose by the rat brain.

Mechanisms contributing to the rare but consistent neurotoxicity of contrast media currently in clinical use for the radiological examination of the subarachnoid space remain to be isolated. We assessed, by means of the (14C)-2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) autoradiographic method, the effect of three non-ionic, low-osmolar contrast media, namely metrizamide, iopamidol and iohexol, on the local cerebral glucose utilization in the rat brain after intracisternal application. A significant (-30%) global reduction of the brain's metabolic activity occurred following intracisternal metrizamide injection. When compared with the mock-CSF control group the greater relative changes were observed in the supratentorial grey matter structures. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in metabolic brain activity in rats treated intracisternally with iopamidol and iohexol. These findings were consistent with the hypothesis that metrizamide is a competitive inhibitor of human brain hexokinase. The apparent lack of interference on neural tissue metabolism makes the second generation contrast media less neurotoxic and more suitable for neuroradiological subarachnoid investigations in clinical settings. The present experimental work establishes the 2-DG method as a viable laboratory approach to investigate aspects of neuronal dysfunction induced by contrast media.