A new minimal synthetic medium for germ-tube production in Candida albicans

A new minimal synthetic medium, with low amount of glucose, without aminoacids, vitamins and neutral pH, which induces germ-tubes production in Candida albicans, is reported in this work. The results indicate a perfect agreement between the germ-tube test performed with the standard method in human or animal serum and this test performed in minimal synthetic medium. In this medium the germ-tube test for the presumptive identification of Candida albicans can be performed with the same formality, time and reproducibility as those in human or animal serum. This constitutes an interesting finding because it is easy to prepare, to store and is highly reproducible.     

The effect of CuSO4 for establishing in vitro culture,and the role nitrogen and iron sources in in vitro multiplication of Corylus avellana L. cv. Tonda Gentile Romana

Abstract

In the present work, we have used copper sulphate (CuSO₄·5H₂O) enriched medium for effective control of visible and latent contamination. Among the different concentrations used, 1.25–2.5?mg/L resulted the most appropriate. In addition, the role of different nitrogen source and concentrations (NH₄NO₃ and KNO₃), as different iron source (FeEDTA and FeEDDHA) has been investigated in the proliferation and rooting phases of European hazelnut (cv. Tonda Gentile Romana). The normal concentration of nitrogen present in Murashige and Skoog medium is too high for hazelnut micropropagation cv. Tonda Gentile Romana. A reduction of total nitrogen, accompanied by a reduction of ammonium forms, resulted in a better quality of the shoots. Similar results have been obtained when the common iron source FeEDTA has been replaced by the same concentration of FeEDDHA. An increase in rooting occurs when the amount of nitrogen was reduced in the rooting medium, particularly when the NH₄NO₃ was not present.     

Synthesis of novel nitric oxide (NO)-releasing esters of timolol

A novel class of timolol derivatives with nitric oxide (NO)-donating moieties achieved chemical stability yet under physiologically relevant conditions released timolol and NO. Hindered esters A were designed and synthesized, whose ‘triggered’ release relied on enzymatic hydrolysis of the nitrate ester in A to B, that in turn cyclized to liberate timolol.     

Simple method for separating the chlamydoconidia of Candida albicans from its mycelium

Different physical and chemical methods were used to detach the chlamydoconidia of Candida albicans from its mycelium. The action of concentrated H₂SO₄ acid for a 4-min period on cultures lysed both the mycelium and the outer but not the inner wall layer of the chlamydoconidia.The sulfuric acid procedure is recommended as the best method to obtain mycelium free chlamydoconidia because of its simplicity, rapidity and low cost.     

Caratteri ed Affinitá Della Flora Briologica Nell'africa Mediterranea

Riassunto

L'A. esamina i componenti fondamentali della flora briologica dell'Africa settentrionale mediterranea, in relazione con i tipi climatici. Distingue un Elemento mediterranco (coi gruppi: stenomediterraneo, euri-mediterraneo, mediterraneo-montano, mediterraneo-atlantico, mediterraneo-steppico, saharo-sindico), atlantico, circumboreale, orofilo-boreale, ipsofilo-boreale, aralo-caspico, cosmopolita ed endemico.     

A New 4D Trajectory-Based Approach Unveils Abnormal LV Revolution Dynamics in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

The assessment of left ventricular shape changes during cardiac revolution may be a new step in clinical cardiology to ease early diagnosis and treatment. To quantify these changes, only point registration was adopted and neither Generalized Procrustes Analysis nor Principal Component Analysis were applied as we did previously to study a group of healthy subjects. Here, we extend to patients affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy the original approach and preliminarily include genotype positive/phenotype negative individuals to explore the potential that incumbent pathology might also be detected. Using 3D Speckle Tracking Echocardiography, we recorded left ventricular shape of 48 healthy subjects, 24 patients affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and 3 genotype positive/phenotype negative individuals. We then applied Generalized Procrustes Analysis and Principal Component Analysis and inter-individual differences were cleaned by Parallel Transport performed on the tangent space, along the horizontal geodesic, between the per-subject consensuses and the grand mean. Endocardial and epicardial layers were evaluated separately, different from many ecocardiographic applications. Under a common Principal Component Analysis, we then evaluated left ventricle morphological changes (at both layers) explained by first Principal Component scores. Trajectories’ shape and orientation were investigated and contrasted. Logistic regression and Receiver Operating Characteristic curves were used to compare these morphometric indicators with traditional 3D Speckle Tracking Echocardiography global parameters. Geometric morphometrics indicators performed better than 3D Speckle Tracking Echocardiography global parameters in recognizing pathology both in systole and diastole. Genotype positive/phenotype negative individuals clustered with patients affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy during diastole, suggesting that incumbent pathology may indeed be foreseen by these methods. Left ventricle deformation in patients affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy compared to healthy subjects may be assessed by modern shape analysis better than by traditional 3D Speckle Tracking Echocardiography global parameters. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy pathophysiology was unveiled in a new manner whereby also diastolic phase abnormalities are evident which is more difficult to investigate by traditional ecocardiographic techniques.