Biobanks as an Indispensable Tool in the "Era" of Precision Medicine: Key Role in the Management of Complex Diseases, Such as Melanoma.

In recent years, medicine has undergone profound changes, strongly entering a new phase defined as the "era of precision medicine". In this context, patient clinical management involves various scientific approaches that allow for a comprehensive pathology evaluation: from preventive processes (where applicable) to genetic and diagnostic studies. In this scenario, biobanks play an important role and, over the years, have gained increasing prestige, moving from small deposits to large collections of samples of various natures.

QTL Analysis of β-Glucan Content and Other Grain Traits in a Recombinant Population of Spring Barley.

Barley with high grain β-glucan content is valuable for functional foods. The identification of loci for high β-glucan content is, thus, of great importance for barley breeding. Segregation mapping for the content in β-glucan and other barley grain components (starch, protein, lipid, ash, phosphorous, calcium, sodium) was performed using the progeny of the cross between Glacier AC38, a mutant with high amylose, and CDC Fibar, a high β-glucan waxy cultivar.

Quantitative ultrasound radiomics analysis to evaluate lymph nodes in patients with cancer: a systematic review.

This systematic review aims to evaluate the role of ultrasound (US) radiomics in assessing lymphadenopathy in patients with cancer and the ability of radiomics to predict metastatic lymph node involvement. A systematic literature search was performed in the PubMed (MEDLINE), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and EMBASE (Ovid) databases up to June 13, 2023. 42 articles were included in which the lymph node mass was assessed with a US exam, and the analysis was performed using radiomics methods.

QTL mapping for kernel-related traits in a durum wheat x . segregating population.

Durum wheat breeding relies on grain yield improvement to meet its upcoming demand while coping with climate change. Kernel size and shape are the determinants of thousand kernel weight (TKW), which is a key component of grain yield, and the understanding of the genetic control behind these traits supports the progress in yield potential. The present study aimed to dissect the genetic network responsible for kernel size components (length, width, perimeter, and area) and kernel shape traits (width-to-length ratio and formcoefficient) as well as their relationships with kernel weight, plant height, and heading date in durum wheat.

Is a Natural Host of the Novel Ilarvirus, Prunus Virus I.

L. is a climbing shrub and a pioneer plant in abandoned orchards or vineyards that are widespread in temperate climate zones. In past years, several viruses infecting the species have been identified, including different ilarviruses.

Marker-Assisted Pyramiding of Blast-Resistance Genes in a Elite Rice Cultivar through Forward and Background Selection.

Rice blast, caused by , is one of the main rice diseases worldwide. The pyramiding of blast-resistance () genes, coupled to Marker-Assisted BackCrossing (MABC), provides broad-spectrum and potentially durable resistance while limiting the donor genome in the background of an elite cultivar. In this work, MABC coupled to foreground and background selections based on KASP marker assays has been applied to introgress four genes (, and ) in a renowned Italian rice variety, highly susceptible to blast.

QTL Mapping of Stem Rust Resistance in Populations of Durum Wheat.

Stem rinfectionust, caused by the fungus f. sp. (), is one of the most devastating fungal diseases of durum and common wheat worldwide.

A Genomic BSAseq Approach for the Characterization of QTLs Underlying Resistance to in Eggplant.

Eggplant ( L.), similar to many other crops, suffers from soil-borne diseases, including f. sp.

First report of Erysiphe corylacearum Causing Powdery Mildew on Hazelnut in Hungary.

The interest in hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) cultivation has recently increased in Hungary, it is currently grown on 490 hectares. In August 2021 early powdery mildew symptoms were observed in a hazelnut plantation, and in a variety collection of the Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences in Érd.

Exploring CT Texture Parameters as Predictive and Response Imaging Biomarkers of Survival in Patients With Metastatic Melanoma Treated With PD-1 Inhibitor Nivolumab: A Pilot Study Using a Delta-Radiomics Approach.

In the era of artificial intelligence and precision medicine, the use of quantitative imaging methodological approaches could improve the cancer patient's therapeutic approaches. Specifically, our pilot study aims to explore whether CT texture features on both baseline and first post-treatment contrast-enhanced CT may act as a predictor of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in metastatic melanoma (MM) patients treated with the PD-1 inhibitor Nivolumab. Ninety-four lesions from 32 patients treated with Nivolumab were analyzed.

Precision Medicine and Melanoma: Multi-Omics Approaches to Monitoring the Immunotherapy Response.

The treatment and management of patients with metastatic melanoma have evolved considerably in the "era" of personalized medicine. Melanoma was one of the first solid tumors to benefit from immunotherapy; life expectancy for patients in advanced stage of disease has improved. However, many progresses have yet to be made considering the (still) high number of patients who do not respond to therapies or who suffer adverse events.

Characterization of the Resistance to Powdery Mildew and Leaf Rust Carried by the Bread Wheat Cultivar Victo.

Leaf rust and powdery mildew are two important foliar diseases in wheat. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, obtained by crossing two bread wheat cultivars ('Victo' and 'Spada'), was evaluated for resistance to the two pathogens at seedling stage. Upon developing a genetic map of 8726 SNP loci, linkage analysis identified three resistance Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs), with 'Victo' contributing the resistant alleles to all loci.

Genome wide association studies for japonica rice resistance to blast in field and controlled conditions.

Background: Rice blast, caused by the fungus Pyricularia oryzae, represents the most damaging fungal disease of rice worldwide. Utilization of rice resistant cultivars represents a practical way to control the disease. Most of the rice varieties cultivated in Europe and several other temperate regions are severely depleted of blast resistance genes, making the identification of resistant sources in genetic background adapted to temperate environments a priority.

Oral health conditions in Wilson's disease patients: A clinical diagnostic study.

Aim: The aims of this study were: To evaluate oral health conditions, oral health behaviours and eating habits in Wilson's disease (WD) patients; to assess the possible relationship between oral health status and long-term pharmacological therapies undertaken.

Methods: Sixty WD patients were selected and their data were compared to those of an age-matched control group of 62 subjects. Clinical examinations were carried out and a questionnaire on oral health behaviours and eating habits was submitted to both groups.

Novel cancer therapies for advanced cutaneous melanoma: The added value of radiomics in the decision making process-A systematic review.

Advanced malignant melanoma represents a public health matter due to its rising incidence and aggressiveness. Novel therapies such as immunotherapy are showing promising results with improved progression free and overall survival in melanoma patients. However, novel targeted and immunotherapies could generate atypical patterns of response which are nowadays a big challenge since imaging criteria (ie Recist 1.

Clonality, spatial structure, and pathogenic variation in Fusarium fujikuroi from rain-fed rice in southern Laos.

Bakanae disease, caused by the fungal phytopathogen Fusarium fujikuroi, can be detected in most rice (Oryza sativa L.) growing areas worldwide. In this study, we investigated the population structure of this fungus in southern Lao PDR, a country located near the geographic origin of rice domestication.

GWAS for Starch-Related Parameters in Rice ( L.).

Rice quality is mainly related to the following two starch components, apparent amylose content (AAC) and resistant starch (RS). The former affects grain cooking properties, while RS acts as a prebiotic. In the present study, a Genome Wide Association Scan (GWAS) was performed using 115 rice accessions, including tropical and temperate genotypes, with the purpose of expanding the knowledge of the genetic bases affecting RS and AAC.

Sonographic appearance of sebaceous cysts. Our experience and a review of the literature.

Sebaceous cysts are benign enveloped nodules resulting from an obstruction of a hair follicle. Although they are very common, differential diagnosis is not obvious and may include many diseases. Ultrasound examination with high frequency probes, in the hands of a skilled operator, is the gold standard for noninvasive evaluation of these diseases.

Genomic Regions From an Iranian Landrace Increase Kernel Size in Durum Wheat.

Kernel size and shape are important parameters determining the wheat profitability, being main determinants of yield and its technological quality. In this study, a segregating population of 118 recombinant inbred lines, derived from a cross between the Iranian durum landrace accession "Iran_249" and the Iranian durum cultivar "Zardak", was used to investigate durum wheat kernel morphology factors and their relationships with kernel weight, and to map the corresponding QTLs. A high density genetic map, based on wheat 90k iSelect Infinium SNP assay, comprising 6,195 markers, was developed and used to perform the QTL analysis for kernel length and width, traits related to kernel shape and weight, and heading date, using phenotypic data from three environments.

Durum wheat genome highlights past domestication signatures and future improvement targets.

The domestication of wild emmer wheat led to the selection of modern durum wheat, grown mainly for pasta production. We describe the 10.45 gigabase (Gb) assembly of the genome of durum wheat cultivar Svevo.

Genetic Mapping of Loci for Resistance to Stem Rust in a Tetraploid Wheat Collection.

Stem rust, caused by f. sp. (), is a major biotic constraint to wheat production worldwide.