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ObjectiveHepatitis B virus (HBV) infection causes chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, about 20% of the patients develop extrahepatic manifestations such as cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV), polyarteritis nodosa, non-rheumatoid arthritis, glomerulonephritis and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This review analyzed literature data on clinical manifestations of HBV-related CV and the impact of antiviral therapy with analoques nucleotide.MethodsA PubMed search was performed to select eligible studies in the literature, up to July 2022.ResultsSome studies have analyzed clinical manifestations in HBV-related CV and have investigated the role of antiviral therapy with nucleotides analogues (NAs). Clinical manifestations of CV vary from mild to moderate (purpura, asthenia and arthralgias) to severe (leg ulcers, peripheral neuropathy, glomerulonephritis, and non-Hodking lymphoma). NAs therapy leads to suppression of HBV-DNA; therefore, it is capable of producing clinical response in the majority of patients with mild to moderate symptoms.ConclusionAntiviral therapy with NAs is the first choice for HBV suppression and control of mild to moderate disease. In severe vasculitis (glomerulonephritis, progressive peripheral neuropathy and leg ulcers), rituximab alone or with plasma-exchange is always indicated in combination with antiviral therapy.

People with cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis (CV) have an increased risk of infections, attributed to different causes: impairment of the immune system due to the disease itself, comorbidities, and immunosuppressive therapy. Therefore, these patients may be at high risk for a more severe course of COVID-19, including hospitalisation and death. Concerns about efficacy, immunogenicity and safety of vaccines, as well as doubts, not yet fully clarified in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases, represent other important factors for a low vaccination rate in people with (CV). Indeed, providing an expert position on the issues related to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients suffering from CV is of critical relevance in order to help both patients and clinicians who are treating them in making the best choice in each case. A multidisciplinary task force of the Italian Group for the Study of Cryoglobulinaemia (GISC) was convened, and through a Delphi technique produced provisional recommendations regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in cryoglobulinaemic patients.

The red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorous ferrugineus Oliver (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an economically important, tissue-boring pest of date palm in many parts of the world. The aim of the work was to investigate the effects of two plant oil-based products (BRK6 and BRK9) on the mortality of RPW (Exp. 1) and morpho-physiological characteristics of palm (Exp. 2). Laboratory experiments showed that the two mixture of oils BRK6 and BRK9 showed larvicide and adulticide properties. These properties were more pronounced on BRK9 than BRK6. The lethal concentration for 50% of individuals (LC50) calculated by probit, of BRK6 was 0.22% (for the 90% of individuals LC90 = 0.34) while for BRK9 the calculated LC50 was 0.10% (LC90 = 0.66). These data show that a smaller amount of BRK9 oil was required to induce the 50% of mortality of RPW larvae. As regards to the adults, BRK9 and BRK6 were effective only at the highest concentration (2 and 5%, respectively). Finally, injection of BRK9 into the palm trunk showed to promote chlorophyll content and photosynthesis of leaves thanks to a good translocation of zinc.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study is to provide information on clinical outcome of the patients affected by HCV-positive mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) treated with PEG-IFN and Ribavirin for 6 or 12 months according to the HCV genotype. METHODS: Eighty-six patients (42 women and 44 men) were enrolled in 8 Italian centres. All the patients had MC in the active phase of the disease. The patients received Peginterferon alfa-2b 1.5 mcg/kg/once a week (QW) and daily oral Ribavirin (800/1,000/1,200) according to their body weight for 48 weeks for genotype 1 and 4 and for 24 weeks for genotypes 2 and 3. RESULTS: In the 44 patients who underwent 12 months of therapy, 17 cases (39%) could be considered as 'non-responders' and 11 relapsed, therefore only 16 patients (36%) obtained a sustained virological response. In the 42 patients who underwent six months of therapy only 7 cases (17%) could be considered as 'non-responders' and 8 relapsed, therefore 27 patients (64%) obtained a sustained virological response. Purpura score dropped in both group (p

In order to allow a comparative pathogenomics of phytoplasmas, we optimized a procedure which allowed the reconstruction of high quality genome drafts from Illumina reads, using standard DNA preparation from periwinkle. The genome analysis of four phytoplasma strains belonging to the 16SrII group (X disease clade), namely the Vaccinium Witches' Broom phytoplasma (647,754 nts in 272 contigs), the Italian Clover Phyllody phytoplasma strain MA (597245 nts in 197 contigs), the Poinsettia branch-inducing phytoplasma strain JR, (631440 nts in 185 contigs), and the Milkweed Yellows phytoplasma (583806 nts in 158 contigs) revealed similarities in their basic metabolic potential with the genomes of other wide host range phytoplasmas, and highlighted the role of membrane trafficking in defining virulence and host adaptation. The genome analysis was applied to compare two phytoplasmas related to "Ca. Phytoplasma asteris" and belonging to the 16SrI-B subgroup, namely the Chrysanthemum yellows phytoplasma (660013 nts in 253 contigs) and the Lettuce yellows phytoplasma (694813 nts in 205 contigs). Results obtained showed that, despite the strikingly different symptoms induced in the infected periwinkle, the two phytoplasmas share highly similar genomes. Moreover, the results of the genome sequencing of the six phytoplasmas pointed out the significant role of horizontal gene transfer among different "Ca. Phytoplasma" species in shaping phytoplasma genomes and promoting their diversity.

In view of the development of population pathogenomics for phytoplasmas, we optimized a procedure which allowed the reconstruction of high quality genome drafts fro Illumina reads, using standard nucleic acids preparation from periwinkle. The genome analysis of four phytoplasma strains belonging to the 16SrII group (X disease clade), namely the Vaccinium Witches' Broom phytoplasma (647,754 nts in 272 contigs), the Italian Clover Phyllody phytoplasma strain MA (597245 nts in 197 contigs), the Poinsettia branch-inducing phytoplasma strain JR, (631440 nts in 185 contigs), and the Milkweed Yellows phytoplasma (583806 nts in 158 contigs) revealed similarities in their basic metabolic potential with the genomes of other wide host range phytoplasmas, and highlighted the role of inward and outward trafficking through the phytoplasma cellular membrane in defining virulence and host adaptation. Genome analysis was also applied to compare two phytoplasmas related to "Ca. Phytoplasma asteris" and belonging to the 16SrI-B subgroup, namely the Chrysanthemum yellows phytoplasma (660013 nts in 253 contigs) and the Lettuce yellows phytoplasma (694813 nts in 205 contigs). The results obtained showed that, despite the strikingly different symptoms induced in the infected periwinkle, the two phytoplasmas share highly similar genomes. Moreover, the results of the genome sequencing of the six phytoplasmas pointed out the significant role of horizontal gene transfer among different "Ca. Phytoplasma" species in shaping phytoplasma genomes and promoting their diversity.

Background: To develop preliminary classification criteria for the cryoglobulinaemic syndrome or cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis (CV). Methods: Study part I developed a questionnaire for CV to be included in the formal, second part (study part II). Positivity of serum cryoglobulins was defined by experts as an essential condition for CV classification. In study part II, a core set of classification items (questionnaire, clinical and laboratory items, as agreed) was tested in three groups of patients and controls - that is, group A (new patients with the CV), group B (controls with serum cryoglobulins but lacking CV) and group C (controls without serum cryoglobulins but with features which can be observed in CV). Results: In study part I (188 cases, 284 controls), a positive response to at least two of three selected questions showed a sensitivity of 81.9% and a specificity of 83.5% for CV. This questionnaire was employed and validated in study part II, which included 272 patients in group A and 228 controls in group B. The final classification criteria for CV, by pooling data from group A and group B, required the positivity of questionnaire plus clinical, questionnaire plus laboratory, or clinical plus laboratory items, or all the three, providing a sensitivity of 88.5% and a specificity of 93.6% for CV. By comparing data in group A versus group C (425 controls), the same classification criteria showed a sensitivity 88.5% and a specificity 97.0% for CV. Conclusion: Classification criteria for CV were developed, and now need validation.

Presentazione del Sistema Integrato Hydro per la gestione automatica dell'irrigazione di piante ornamentali allevate in contenitore e dei risultati ottenuti da alcune prove sperimentali di validazione del sistema.

Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) is an economically important vegetable crop in Europe, used both as a food and in medicine, thanks to its beneficial properties (e.g. anticarcinogenic, anti-HIV, antioxidative, and choleretic). Its wild progenitor, wild cardoon (C. cardunculus var. sylvestris), gave rise to two crops: artichoke and cultivated cardoon. While the former is vegetatively propagated, the latter is propagated by seeds. The existence of this complex primary gene pool, containing the wild progenitor and two crops showing a different reproduction system, is a unique situation among crop species. This makes the study of gene pools and germplasm differentiation particularly interesting, and opens perspectives on the utilization of Cynara genetic resource. In this light, it is necessary to collect, store and study Cynara germplasm. Within this framework, the project CYNARES (July 2007-June 2011), financed by the European Union, measure AGRIGEN-RES 063, targets the following main objectives: a) collection and conservation of Cynara germplasm; b) rationalization of the collections; c) morphological, biochemical, and molecular characterization; d) establishment of standardized protocols of analysis, e) constitution of a European research network on Cynara. The project is coordinated by the University of Tuscia, Italy, with the participation of other Italian, French, and Spanish partners and is articulated in 5 Work Packages coordinated by different partners. The Cynara living collections held in the three countries have been enriched with new germplasm material. The most promising genotypes will be also stored in vitro. Plant DNA was extracted and distributed among partners; a larger DNA amount was stored in the CNR-IGV DNA bank, in order to preserve genetic material for future genetic analyses. All data resulting from bio-morphological, biochemical (antioxidant and inulin content), and molecular marker (SSR, AFLP, ISSR) analyses will be stored in a web-based database. The present link to the project is www.agraria.unitus.it/CYNARES.

Thirty genotypes of Artichoke landraces of "Romanesco" type have been collected from each of three farms located in Latina province (south of Rome), in order to assess the genetic variation existing between and within each population.The molecular markers utilized, AFLPs and ISSRs, revealed the presence of a great amount of variation within population.Difference between the two types of markers is discussed as well as the strategy for artichoke germplasm conservation and genetic distance between the analysed populations.