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Fruit cracking caused by rainfall prior to harvest, a major problem in sweet cherry production, is being exacerbated by climate change. Currently, pre-harvest spraying with calcium salt solutions is the prevalent technique to reduce fruit cracking in cherry orchards not covered by plastic roofs. This study evaluated the effectiveness of canopy-applied silicon in the reduction of sweet cherry cracking under different field conditions. Four field trials were conducted on mature trees of the cultivars Van, New Star, and Emperor Francis. Treatments included water (control), calcium chloride, and sodium silicate. Multiple sprays (three) were applied weekly from fruit onset of color to approximately 1 week before harvest. The results showed that under conditions conducive to cracking, sodium silicate reduced the percentage of cracked fruits to a similar or larger extent than calcium chloride. This study highlights how canopy-applied silicon sources may effectively contribute to reducing cherry cracking, acting as an alternative technique to other preventive methods.

Background: The prevalence of acute cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in cancer patients is steadily increasing and represents a significant reason for admission to the emergency department (ED). Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study, enrolling consecutive patients with cancer presenting to a tertiary oncological ED and consequently admitted to the oncology ward. Two groups of patients were identified based on main symptoms that lead to ED presentation: symptoms potentially related to CVD vs. symptoms potentially not related to CVD. The aims of the study were to describe the prevalence of symptoms potentially related to CVD in this specific setting and to evaluate the prevalence of definite CV diagnoses at discharge. Secondary endpoints were new intercurrent in-hospital CV events occurrence, length of stay in the oncology ward, and mid-term mortality for all-cause. Results: A total of 469 patients (51.8% female, median age 68.0 [59.1–76.3]) were enrolled. One hundred and eighty-six out of 469 (39.7%) presented to the ED with symptoms potentially related to CVD. Baseline characteristics were substantially similar between the two study groups. A discharge diagnosis of CVD was confirmed in 24/186 (12.9%) patients presenting with symptoms potentially related to CVD and in no patients presenting without symptoms potentially related to CVD (p < 0.01). During a median follow-up of 3.4 (1.2–6.5) months, 204 (43.5%) patients died (incidence rate of 10.1 per 100 person/months). No differences were found between study groups in terms of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.64–1.12), new in-hospital CV events (HR: 1.03, 95% CI 0.77–1.37), and length of stay (p = 0.57). Conclusions: In a contemporary cohort of cancer patients presenting to a tertiary oncological ED and admitted to an oncology ward, symptoms potentially related to CVD were present in around 40% of patients, but only a minority were actually diagnosed with an acute CVD.

Background and aim of the study There is a rising interest in cardio-oncology as an holistic approach to oncological patients with established cardiovascular comorbidities or at increased cardiovascular risk. Symptoms of potential cardiovascular significance are a common cause of cardiologic consultation in patients with active cancer. Moving from this perspective, we analyzed the proportion of cardiovascular conditions underpinning potentially cardiologic presenting symptoms in a cohort of patients with active malignancy referred to the Emergency Department (ER) of a tertiary oncological centre. Methods and Results The study included 250 consecutive patients (median age 69 years [IQR 59.7-77.4], 50% female) presenting to the oncologic ER from September 1st 2021 to May 31st 2022. The most common presenting symptoms were fever (26.9%), gastrointestinal symptoms (24.9%), dyspnea (10.4%), hypotension and hypertension (1.6%), syncope (1.2%) and other (11.2%). We considered as symptoms of potential cardiologic significance the following: dyspnea, lipothymia and syncope, palpitations, fever, chest pain, hypotension and hypertension. We found that 101 of 250 patients (40%) presented with symptoms of potential cardiologic significance. Out of them, 14 patients (13.9%) had confirmed cardiologic diseases: pulmonary embolism (21.4%), heart failure (21.4%), pericardial effusion (21.4%), reflex syncope (14.2%), pericarditis (14.2%) and new onset atrial fibrillation (7.1%). As reported in the table, no significant difference was reported in terms of risk profile or history of cardiac diseases when comparing patients with and without cardiovascular cause of presenting symptoms (CV cause vs non-CV cause). Conclusions Cardiovascular conditions are not common causes of ER presentation among oncologic patients with active cancer. Nevertheless, when a cardiologic condition is diagnosed, it could be potentially life-threatening. The cardiovascular risk profile and the history of cardiac disease is not a good discriminator to identify a cardiac cause of presenting symptoms in this specific setting. Table. Characteristics of patients with potentially cardiologic presenting symptoms.

A 85-year-old lady with severe dyspnea presented in emergency dept. of our institution in Reggio Emilia last July. Typical signs and symptoms of heart failure were associated with high voltage at ECG and echocardiographic findings show a reduced EF (40%) with trans-aortic mean gradient of 42 mmHg, aortic valvular area of 0.8 cm2 and moderate aortic regurgitation. At CT scan analysis, a dismorphic quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) was detected. This is a rare congenital heart disease generally unrelated to other cardiac abnormalities and usually diagnosed incidentally. Due to QAV stenosis rarity, many considerations in Trans Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) in QAV are unclear. Some individuals with QAV develop aortic regurgitation and rarely other cardiovascular complications such as aortic aneurysm. Because of its infrequency, it is difficult to characterize these patients and standardize their management. Tailored therapy is more than ever necessary. Our patient also had bicameral pacemaker for grade II Mobitz 2 atrioventricular blockage. At coronarography angiography mild atheromasia was detected; AngioCT reconstructions in figure 1 panel A and B show the presence of QAV. Severe wall atheromasia along the entire course of the aorta was also detected. A few days later the patient underwent the TAVI procedure. A coronary guidewire was positioned in right coronary artery in order to protect its ostium that was slightly lower and, as known from literature, QAV has a longer leaflet height and a shallower cusp depth. After implantation of a Balloon Expandable Valve, a chimney stenting was also performed. An excellent final result was achieved with a safe deployment and a 90/10 final position (last aortography frame in Figure 2, where both coronary arteries are well visible). Post-procedural echo follow-up showed a well functioning aortic prosthesis (with mean gradient of 9 mmHg). The case presented is particularly interesting mainly for three reasons: Extreme rarity of this condition that can be challenging especially in the elderly people with calcific valve affected by stenosis and regurgitation;Paucity of procedural data in literature on QAV;It is a real life management example with subsequent successful implantation of the BEV and chimney stenting in QAV

Eosinophilic myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the heart, even if rare, it could be a life-threatening condition, characterized by eosinophils infiltration of the myocardial tissue. First report of this type of endocarditis was reported by Löffler in 1935 and was described as an eosinophilic filling of endocardial cells with consequent myocardial fibrosis. Etiologically, viral infections are the prominent cause of myocarditis, especially the Coxsackie-B virus, drugs such as sumatriptan and canine Toxoplasma infections have been associated with eosinophilic myocarditis. Eosinophilia indeed (increase in eosinophils count in blood sample) has a similar etiology to eosinophilic myocarditis. However, as known from the literature, the relationship between myocardial damage and eosinophilia can have multiple etiologies, from hypersensitivity to autoimmune diseases but also malignancies. Clinically, its signs and symptoms present a wide spectrum of manifestations such as chest pain, dyspnea, rhythm disturbances, until sudden cardiac death. Diagnostic gold standard is endomyocardial biopsy, but cardiac magnetic resonance is a valid option in such scenarios following Lewis Lake criteria and suggestive laboratory results. We present the case of a 78-year-old lady, affected by arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia. Among her main comorbidities she complained late-onset asthma and hypothyroidism. The patient went to the emergency department of our hospital for onset of dyspnea associated with chest pain. An echocardiogram showed a dilated and diffusely hypokinetic left ventricle, severely reduced systolic function (EF 30%) and atrial fibrillation with high ventricular response. The patient presented with acute pulmonary edema and oliguria, for which non-invasive ventilation, diuretics therapy and inotropic therapy were needed. Invasive coronary angiography was negative, excluding any kind of coronary syndrome. HS-troponin peak detected was very high (73.170 ng/L). CMR was performed that showed images indicative of myocarditis (as shown in the picture A and B) with typical distribution of late gadolinium enhancement and reduced left ventricular function: The finding of hypereosinophilia was highly suspicious, so the endomyocardial biopsy performed confirmed the histotype of eosinophilic myocarditis. Hypereosinophilic myeloproliferative syndrome was ruled out after genetic testing. Therefore, a final diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with ANCA-negative polyangiotis with predominantly hematologic (peripheral hypereosinophilia), cardiac (multifocal myocarditis with inflammatory infiltrate with predominantly eosinophilic component), pulmonary (late-onset asthma) and peripheral neurologic (sciatic mononeuropathy) involvement was made. The patient underwent corticosteroid therapy, to which mepolizumab and cyclophosphamide were added. This case enlightens the rarity of this pathology, enhancing the appropriate indication of CMR in complex settings. We also remark the importance of close team collaboration with rheumatologists and CMR-expert radiologists for the resolution of the case and its proper therapeutic management.

Dasineura oleae (Angelini, 1831) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), the gall agent of Olea europaea L. leaves, has always been considered just a secondary pest of the olive grove since it does not cause any direct damages on the olive fruits production. However, severe outbreaks were recently recorded in the Mediterranean Basin. Our result shed light on the potential alteration that D. oleae trophic action may trigger on leaf morphology and some physiological activities of olive leaves (O. europaea cv Frantoio), since they are strictly related with the photosynthates accumulation and olives production. Net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were significantly lower just in infested leaves (P = 0.0038 and P = 0.0487, respectively), inducing to consider that the symptoms of suffering are limited to the attacked organs. Shoot elongation in control versus infested plants shows no difference between the two treatments. Polyphenols content was analyzed in tissues surrounding D. oleae galls, and no deficits were recorded compared to control leaves. Although lab trials reveal no dramatic effects on these physiological activities, further experiments are needed in order to relate physiological alteration in field and olive fruit production.

High vacuum technology has been incorporated into a new assisted extraction system applied to virgin olive oil (VOO) processing, which was tested at a lab-scale pilot plant to evaluate its impact on the physicochemical properties of the olive paste and oil. The vacuum system induced changes in the mechanical and structural properties of the olive cells, improving the coalescence of the oil droplets due to substantial cellular and intracellular mass transfer during the process, as shown by cryo-scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) analysis. The effects on the quality characteristics of VOOs extracted from three cultivars at different malaxation temperatures were evaluated. A significant increase in the phenolic content, from 25.2% to 48.6%, was observed. The content of volatile compounds responsible for the VOO flavor decreased as a function of malaxation temperature. The reduction of some volatile molecules related to the VOO off-flavor (ethanol, ethyl acetate and acetic acid) was also shown.

In several production areas, dessert (sweet) and reinforced wines are made after a more or less intense dehydration of harvested grapes. The dehydration process depends on several factors, including the size, morphology and anatomy of the berries, all genetically defined traits that can be affected by vineyard management and microclimate conditions. At harvest, berry outer surface and skin ultrastructural features of cvs Aleatico, Sagrantino, Sangiovese and Trebbiano berries were investigated in a frozen-hydrated state using cryo‑scanning electron microscopy (Cryo‑SEM). The berries were subjected to postharvest dehydration at 23 °C for twelve days and the differences in weight loss were determined. In terms of weight loss rate, Aleatico and Trebbiano were the fastest and the slowest respectively. Therefore, the ultrastructural changes of berry skin of these two varieties were also investigated at the end of the dehydration process. At harvest, the structure of the epicuticular waxes on the skin outer surface differed between berries of different cultivars. The thickness of the cuticle, epidermis and hypodermis was also found to be significantly different, with Trebbiano berries having the thickest skin. At the end of the dehydration process all the measured parameters decreased, in particular Aleatico epicuticular wax, hypodermis and cuticle thickness, as well as the hypodermis cell wall and the mesocarp parenchyma cell area. The high weight loss rate recorded for Aleatico can be partly explained by the thickness of the berry skin at harvest, which was significantly thinner than that of Trebbiano, as well as by other skin-related morphological and histological factors possibly affecting permeability.

The main chemical and physical parameters of veiled and filtered virgin olive oils (VOOs) that are linked to its health and sensory properties, such as phenolic and volatile compounds, were evaluated during a four-month simulated shelf life at room temperature during which the oils were exposed to diffused light for 12 h per day. The specific settings of the vertical centrifuge used to treat the four industrial VOO samples extracted in different Mediterranean areas determined the “veiling” stabilization and reduced the formation of deposits at the bottom of the oil bottles. Cryo-SEM of the veiled oils showed the presence of micro-dispersed water particles that did not contain apparent vegetable fragments. By the end of the storage period, the changes in the quality parameters showed no negative effects on the oxidative stability of the veiled oils compared to the filtered oils. A higher phenolic concentration of Tunisian, Spanish, Greek and Italian veiled VOOs (50.8, 110.1, 389.6 and 389.4 mg/kg, respectively) was detected at the end of storage period compared to filtered samples (20.1, 83.2, 196.1 and 209.6 mg/kg, respectively).

Key message Poplar callus maintained a specific difference in osmotic potential with respect to media when supplemented with different carbohydrate concentrations. This balance in osmotic potential guaranteed the growth capacity. Osmotic stress is caused by several abiotic factors such as drought, salinity, or freezing. However, the threshold of osmotic potential that allows the growth under stress conditions has not been thoroughly studied. In this study, different levels of osmotic stress in Populus alba (L.) callus have been induced with the addition of mannitol or sorbitol in the medium (from 0 to 500 mM). The key factor for preserving the growth was observed to be the restoration of a constant difference in osmotic potential between callus and medium for all the tested conditions. The osmotic adjustments were primarily achieved with the uptake of mannitol or sorbitol from the media considering their chemical properties instead of their biological functions. The decrease in water content (from - 1 to - 10% after 21 days) and mineral elements, such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium, together with the alterations in cell morphology, did not show negative effects on growth. The activity of sorbitol dehydrogenase was detected for the first time in poplar (+ 4.7 U l(-1) in callus treated with sorbitol compared to control callus). This finding suggested the importance of choosing carefully the molecules used to exert osmotic stress for separating the dual function of carbohydrates in osmotic adjustments and cell metabolism.

The effect of salinity on physiology of olive (Olea europaea L.) fruits was studied using a salt-sensitive genotype (Leccino cv.) able to translocate sodium to the aerial part. Plants were treated with 0 and 60 mM NaCl for 49 days starting from the beginning of pit hardening to veraison. The effects of salt exposure were studied classifying olive in two Maturation Groups: MG1 olives from green skin to Plants treated with NaCl present a significant reduction of shoot elongation after 35, 42 and 49 days of salt treatment (15%, 18% and 24%, respectively). Na accumulation occurs in fruit flesh depending on the MG: 559 mg kg−1 in MG1 and 397 mg kg−1 in MG2. In general, NaCl does not negatively affect fruit yield parameters while induce an increment of total phenols (58%) and DPPH scavenging activity (15%) in MG1 in comparison with control. Cryo-SEM observations of freeze-fractured fruits revealed that salt treatment induce an increment of cells area and a thickening of cuticle, epidermis, hypodermis and outer mesocarp, that could be considered useful to protect fruits against other biotic and abiotic stress.

Understanding the effective penetration of Zn fertilizers, following foliar application, requires powerful techniques to trace over a period of time the pathway of Zn within the leaf. In this paper, atomic absorption spectroscopy, Cryo-scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (CEDX) was used to study Zn uptake and localization at leaf cellular level, at different times after the foliar-application of a Zn-lignosulfonate (Zn-LS) complex in comparison with a ZnEDTA chelate. Green bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L., cv. Linera) were grown in pots and Zn-LS and ZnEDTA fertilizers were compared in foliar application on the oldest leaves. Zinc concentration in Treated Non-treated leaves and “washing away” water was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry at 6 h, 4 and 30 days. Significant differences in Zn penetration inside the leaves were observed, the most efficient being the Zn LS complex which showed fastest absorption after 6 h. At this time, also significant differences in Zn localization inside the leaf tissues were detected by CEDX, the mesophyll showing the highest absorption of Zn LS. Zn were detected in the mesophyll at the highest concentration in leaves of plants treated with Zn-LS also at the 4th and 30th days, whereas in those treated with ZnEDTA it was in the lower epidermis. The analyses of structural changes on frozen-hydrated leaf samples by Cryo-SEM showed that Zn-LS complex treatment causes an increase of the total thickness of the leaf and in particular of the spongy mesophyll, the innermost and physiologically active tissue layer.

Octopus vulgaris is a cephalopod of the Octopodidae family. It has four pairs of arms and two rows of suckers which perform many functions, including bending and elongation. For this reason the octopus was chosen as model to develop a new generation of soft-body robots. In order to explain some of the fine structures of the octopus arm in relation to its specific ability, we examined the external and internal structures of O. vulgaris arms in a frozen-hydrated state using cryo-scanning electron microscopy. The arms showed skin with a very complex design that is useful to elongation, and a pore pattern distribution on their surface which is functional to cutaneous oxygen uptake. The analysis of freeze-fractured frozen-hydrated arm samples allowed us to describe the developmental differences in the relative proportion of the areas of axial nerve cord, intrinsic and extrinsic musculature, in relation to the growth of the arms and of the increase in functional capability. In the suckers, we analyzed the shedding mechanisms in the outer part of the infundibulum and described the outer and inner characteristics of the denticles, showing in detail their pore system, which is fundamental for their ability to explore the environment. These results are discussed by considering their possible application in the design of new octopus-like artefacts, which will be able to take advantage of some of these ultrastructure characteristics and achieve advanced bioinspired functionalities.

Olea europaea L. (Olive tree) is a glycophytic species showing differences in salinity response depending on the genotype and the cultivar. Despite several studies have demonstrated which olive cultivars are tolerant and which are sensitive to salt stress, the role of anatomical adjustment in olive roots under salinity has not been completely clarified by scientific evidence. To address this problem one-year cuttings of olive cultivar Leccino (salt-sensitive) and Frantoio (salt-tolerant), were grown in an aeroponic system under controlled condition. Plants were sprayed (5 s of spray every 15 min-intervals) with the nutrient solution with and without 120 mM NaCl for 40 days. Free hand section of roots were taken and stained with 0.01% Fluorol yellow 088 to allow suberin lamellae visualization under a fluorescence microscope. Moreover, Cryo-SEM and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis were used for ion localization in root cells. Both treated cultivars with Na + showed a significant reduction in shoot length, besides that, Na + concentration in leaves increased only in Leccino (salt-sensitive) as confirmed by translocation factor. Microscopic analyses showed that apoplastic barriers in the endodermis developed closer to the root apex in Leccino compared to Frantoio. Moreover, a significant Na + gradient concentration from exodermis to stele tissues between genotypes and cell types has been detected and it resulted stronger in Leccino than in Frantoio. In conclusion the different apoplastic adjustments in roots play a role in reducing ion fluxes to the shoots depending on genotype and Na + concentration.

Soluble low-molecular-mass protein isoforms were purified from chemosensory organs (antennae, tarsi and labrum) of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria. Five genes encoding proteins of this group were amplified by PCR from cDNAs of tarsi and sequenced. Their expression products are polypeptide chains of 109 amino acids showing 40-50% sequence identity with putative olfactory proteins from Drosophila melanogaster and Cactoblastis cactorum. Direct structural investigation on isoforms purified from chemosensory organs revealed the presence in the expression products of two of the genes cloned. Two additional protein isoforms were detected and their molecular structure exhaustively characterized. MS analysis of all isoforms demonstrated that the four cysteine residues conserved in the polypeptide chain were involved in disulfide bridges (Cys29-Cys38 and Cys57-Cys60) and indicated the absence of any additional post-translational modifications. Immunocytochemistry experiments, performed with rabbit antiserum raised against the protein isoform mixture, showed selective labelling of the outer lymph in contact sensilla of tarsi, maxillary palps and antennae. Other types of sensilla were not labelled, nor were the cuticle and dendrites of the sensory cells. No binding of radioactively labelled glucose or bicarbonate was detected, in disagreement with the hypothesis that this class of proteins is involved in the CO2-sensing cascade. Our experimental data suggest that the proteins described here could be involved in contact chemoreception in Orthoptera.