Which Plant Species for Green Roofs in the Mediterranean Environment?

In recent years, owing to intense urbanization and global change with the consequent extreme climate effects, interest in green roofs, even extensive ones, in the Mediterranean environment has increased. To this end, the choice of plant species is crucial because, owing to the identification of the most suitable plants, it will be possible to expand this type of green infrastructure and increase its ecosystem services in the urban environment. In this context, the objective of the review, through a critical analysis of some of the references on the topic, is to identify suitable criteria for plant species selection that are simple to apply and able to respond to the need to have plants capable of surviving, ensuring a suitable aesthetic effect, and providing essential ecosystem services.

Endovascular Bail Out for a Failed Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in High Surgical Risk Patient.

The endovascular treatment for acute type A dissection (ATAD) represents an alternative and emerging option in selected high surgical risk patients. We report a successful total endovascular ATAD repair occurred intraoperatively during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) placement in 82 years old female, not fit for surgery in emergency setting. The presentation, the diagnostic evaluation, and the technique are discussed.

Influence of phthiocerol dimycocerosate on CD4(+) T cell priming and persistence during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

The characterisation of mycobacterial factors that influence or modulate the host immune response may aid the development of more efficacious TB vaccines. We have previously reported that Mycobacterium tuberculosis deficient in export of Phthiocerol Dimycocerosates (DIM) (MT103(ΔdrrC)) is more attenuated than wild type M. tuberculosis and provides sustained protective immunity compared to the existing BCG vaccine.

The Ag85B protein of the BCG vaccine facilitates macrophage uptake but is dispensable for protection against aerosol Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Defining the function and protective capacity of mycobacterial antigens is crucial for progression of tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidates to clinical trials. The Ag85B protein is expressed by all pathogenic mycobacteria and is a component of multiple TB vaccines under evaluation in humans. In this report we examined the role of the BCG Ag85B protein in host cell interaction and vaccine-induced protection against virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

An inducible expression system for high-level expression of recombinant proteins in slow growing mycobacteria.

A novel protein expression vector utilising the inducible hspX promoter of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was constructed and evaluated in this study. High-level induction of three mycobacterial antigens, comprising up to 9% of bacterial sonicate, was demonstrated in recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG when grown under low-oxygen tension, which serves to enhance hspX promoter activity. Recombinant proteins were efficiently purified from bacterial lysates in a soluble form by virtue of a C-terminal 6-histidine tag.

Potent antimycobacterial activity of the pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone analog 2-pyridylcarboxaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone: a lipophilic transport vehicle for isonicotinic acid hydrazide.

The rise in drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a major threat to human health and highlights the need for new therapeutic strategies. In this study, we have assessed whether high-affinity iron chelators of the pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone (PIH) class can restrict the growth of clinically significant mycobacteria. Screening a library of PIH derivatives revealed that one compound, namely, 2-pyridylcarboxaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone (PCIH), exhibited nanomolar in vitro activity against Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin and virulent M.

Host cell-induced components of the sulfate assimilation pathway are major protective antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

New therapies to control tuberculosis are urgently required because of the inability of the only available vaccine, BCG, to adequately protect against tuberculosis. Here we demonstrate that proteins of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis sulfate-assimilation pathway (SAP) represent major immunogenic targets of the bacillus, as defined by strong T-cell recognition by both mice and humans infected with M. tuberculosis.

Personal experience of the treatment of ruptured aortic aneurysms. The prognostic evaluation of some parameters.

Background: The rupture of an aortic aneurysm is the most frequent and most severe complication, with an incidence of approximately 20-40/100,000 persons each year. The aim of this study was to identify the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative factors that may influence the mortality rate.

Methods: Between January 1996 and December 1999 145 patients underwent emergency abdominal aortic repair surgery.

Mid-term results of endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm, with loco-regional anesthesia, in high-risk patients.

Background: Aim of this study was to evaluate the results of endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in patients considered not suitable for traditional open surgical repair because of the high anesthesiological risk.

Methods: We have retrospectively evaluated the result of the endovascular treatment of 11 patients with AAA of more than 6 cm diameter and high surgical risk due to cardiac hypokinesia and/or respiratory insufficiency. Patients were selected by a team composed of vascular surgeons and vascular radiologists who decided to implant the graft according to anatomical features of the AAA and of the iliac arteries.

Carotid endoarterectomy in the presence of contralateral carotid occlusion.

Background: The purpose of this study was to define a correct anesthesiological and surgical approach in patient who present a significant carotid stenosis with contralateral carotid occlusion.

Methods: Between 1996 and 1998 in our Department of Vascular Surgery of the Hospital S. Giovanni Battista has been executed 337 Carotid Endoarterectomies (CEA).