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Current practice regarding complementary feeding (CF) is influenced by socio-cultural background. Our group already investigated the Italian approach to CF in the years 2015–2017. Our aim was to update those data by finding out: if the habits have changed nationwide, how the trends changed in each area, and if the differences between regions still exist. We devised and submitted to Italian primary care paediatricians (PCP) a questionnaire consisting of four items regarding the suggestions they gave to families about CF and compared the results to the ones from our previous survey. We collected 595 responses. Traditional weaning was the most recommended method, with a significant reduction compared to the period of 2015–2017 (41% vs. 60%); conversely, the proportion of PCP endorsing baby-led weaning (BLW) or traditional spoon-feeding with adult food tastings has increased, while the endorsement of commercial baby foods dropped. BLW is still more popular in the North and Centre compared to the South (24.9%, 22.3%, and 16.7%, respectively). The age to start CF and the habit of giving written information have not changed over time. Our results highlighted that Italian paediatricians encourage BLW and traditional CF with adult tastings more than in the past, at the expense of traditional spoon-feeding.

Diet is a matter of interest in the pathogenesis and management of Crohn’s Disease (CD). Little is known about CD children’s dietary habits. Our aim was assessing the quality and the amount of nutrient intake in a group of CD pediatric patients. Data were compared with those of healthy subjects (HS). In total, 20 patients (13 males) and 48 HS (24 males) aged 4–18 years were provided with a food diary to fill out for one week. Winfood software performed the bromatological analysis, providing data about intakes of proteins and amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, cholesterol, fibers, minerals, vitamins, and polyphenols. Estimates of the antioxidant activity of foods and of the dietetic protein load were also calculated. The diet of CD patients was poorer in fibers, polyphenols, vitamin A, beta-carotene, and fatty acids, and richer in animal proteins, vitamin B12, and niacin. PRAL was higher in CD patients’ diets, while ORAC was higher in HS. No significant differences were observed in carbohydrate and other macro- and micronutrient consumptions. CD dietary habits seem to reflect the so-called Western diet, possibly involved in CD pathogenesis. Furthermore, analysis of dietary habits allows for prevention of nutritional deficiencies and timely correction through education and supplementation.

3-Amino-1,2,4-triazole (amitrole) provided to germinating barley at 20°C in the light led to bleached seedling leaves and photodynamic destruction of chloroplast structure, whereas normal greening and chloroplast ultrastructure was obtained when the seedlings developed in the presence of amitrole in the light at 30°C. Mass spectrometric analysis of the extractable herbicide demonstrated the same content of amitrole in leaves developed at 20 and 30°C. A very similar temperature-sensitive syndrome is characteristic for the nuclear gene mutant tigrina-o 34 in barley. Amitrole and the mutation were shown to inhibit the cyclization of lycopene, leading to severe deficiencies in β-carotene and its xanthophyll derivative lutein. Besides accumulation of lycopene, also its precursors phytoene, phytofluene and ξ-carotene accumulated. Inhibition of carotenoid biosynthesis by amitrole and the mutation at 20°C in the light led to a strong reduction of both transcript and protein levels for chloroplastic glutamine synthetase (GS 2 ) while transcript amount and protein of the cytosolic isoenzyme (GS 1 ) were unaffected. At 30°C increased levels of mRNA for the chloroplastic isoform GS 2 were observed in wild type, mutant and amitrole-treated seedlings, but protein levels remained unchanged. Turnover rates of the GS 2 protein were the same at 20 and 30°C. This extensive translational control of chloroplastic GS 2 synthesis was also observed in a heat shock experiment, which revealed transiently increased mRNA levels for chloroplastic GS 2 but unchanged protein levels. Permissive synthesis of β-carotene and chloroplastic glutamine synthetase (GS 2 ) at 30°C in the presence of amitrole or the tigrina-o 34 mutation might be due to two alternative pathways of ionone ring formation using either lycopene or neurosporene as substrates for cyclization.