Long-term efficacy and catheter choice in male varicocele embolization using NBCA-MS glue.

Purpose: This study investigated the long-term efficacy of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate-metacryloxysulpholane (NBCA-MS) for varicocele embolization (VE) without using a microcatheter.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on male patients who underwent VE with NBCA-MS for grade III-IV varicocele between January 2016 and December 2022. Patients were categorized by the catheter type used.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of root water uptake and identification of soil moisture thresholds for precision irrigation in a Mediterranean yellow-fleshed kiwifruit orchard.

Introduction: Actinidia is highly susceptible to water stress, both excess and shortage, and is therefore a model fruit crop for irrigation management, requiring precise water application. The present study was carried out in a mature kiwifruit orchard in southern Italy to investigate the physiology of a yellow-fleshed kiwifruit cultivar under non-limiting soil water conditions and in response to a progressive decrease in soil water content in a Mediterranean environment, with the aim of defining soil moisture thresholds to guide irrigation management.

Methods: The progressive lowering in soil moisture was monitored using multi-profile probes, taking into account a 60 cm layer.

Uptake and translocation of pharmaceutically active compounds by olive tree ( L.) irrigated with treated municipal wastewater.

Introduction: The use of treated municipal wastewater (TWW) represents a relevant opportunity for irrigation of agricultural crops in semi-arid regions to counter the increasing water scarcity. Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) are often detected in treated wastewater, posing a risk to humans and the environment. PhACs can accumulate in soils and translocate into different plant tissues, reaching, in some cases, edible organs and entering the food chain.

Novel biomarker for pulmonary vascular disease in systemic sclerosis patients.

Objectives: In systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), which is preceded by pulmonary vascular disease (PVD), is one the of major causes of morbidity and mortality. Given the higher risk of PAH among anti-CENP antibodies (ACA)+ patients, we previously characterised a subset of ACA+ patients, based on a differential reactivity of their ACA with the phage clone (pc4.2)-expressing peptide 4.

Carbon isotope discrimination and water use efficiency in interspecific Prunus hybrids subjected to drought stress.

In C plants, carbon isotope composition (δC) is influenced by isotopic effects during diffusion from the atmosphere to the chloroplasts and carboxylation reactions. This work aimed to demonstrate if δC of leaf soluble carbohydrates (δC) and of dry matter from new-growth shoots (δC) of Prunus plants subjected to a period of water deficit was related to water use efficiency (WUE). For this purpose, three interspecific Prunus hybrids rootstocks (6-5, 7-7 and G × N) were gradually subjected to drought and then rewatered.

Soil management type differentially modulates the metabolomic profile of olive xylem sap.

In conventional olive growing, frequent soil tillage strongly reduces the complexity and diversity of the agro-ecosystem. Here, a metabolomic analysis was carried out on the xylem sap (XS) of olive plants (Olea europaea L.) from a grove located in Southern Italy (Basilicata region).

Evaluation of the possible persistence of potential human pathogenic bacteria in olive orchards irrigated with treated urban wastewater.

Under suitable conditions, low-quality, treated urban wastewater (TWW) is an additional water resource for irrigation in water-scarce environments but its use in agriculture requires a careful monitoring of a range of hygiene parameters, including human pathogenic bacteria (HPB). DNA-based microbiological analyses on soil, xylem sap, and leaves surface (phyllosphere) were carried out in an olive (Olea europaea L.) grove located in Southern Italy (Basilicata region).

Fruit calcium accumulation coupled and uncoupled from its transpiration in kiwifruit.

Accumulation of Ca in several fleshy fruit is often supposed to depend, among others, by climatic variables driving fruit transpiration. This study tests the whole causal chain hypothesis: VPD → fruit transpiration → Ca accumulation. Also there are evidences that relationship between fruit transpiration and Ca content is not always clear, hence the hypothesis that low VPD reduces the fraction of xylemic water destined to transpiration was tested by examining the water budget of fruit.

Liver transcriptome analysis in gilthead sea bream upon exposure to low temperature.

Background: Water temperature greatly influences the physiology and behaviour of teleost fish as other aquatic organisms. While fish are able to cope with seasonal temperature variations, thermal excursions outside their normal thermal range might exceed their ability to respond leading to severe diseases and death.Profound differences exist in thermal tolerance across fish species living in the same geographical areas, promoting for investigating the molecular mechanisms involved in susceptibility and resistance to low and high temperatures toward a better understanding of adaptation to environmental challenges.

Nodular dermatofibrosis in a dog without a renal tumour or a mutation in the folliculin gene.

Canine nodular dermatofibrosis is a rare skin disease associated with renal cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma and uncommonly with uterine leiomyoma. It is generally seen in German shepherd dogs, but has been also reported in other breeds, and a relationship has been suggested with mutation of the gene encoding folliculin (FLCN), which is located on chromosome 5. A 10-year-old female golden retriever was presented because of numerous firm cutaneous nodules up to 4 cm in diameter over the entire body surface.

Development and validation of a gene expression oligo microarray for the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata).

Background: Aquaculture represents the most sustainable alternative of seafood supply to substitute for the declining marine fisheries, but severe production bottlenecks remain to be solved. The application of genomic technologies offers much promise to rapidly increase our knowledge on biological processes in farmed species and overcome such bottlenecks. Here we present an integrated platform for mRNA expression profiling in the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), a marine teleost of great importance for aquaculture.