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Pyrenochaeta lycopersici is the causal agent of corky root rot, which is a serious disease worldwide that attacks the roots of tomato. A total of 139 isolates were sampled from eight locations in Italy and Israel and assigned to two molecular types (type 1 and type 2) based on internal transcribed spacer ( ITS) sequences. These isolates were genotyped using amplified fragment length polymorphisms ( AFLPs) to decipher the population structure. Based on this population structure analysis, three groups of P. lycopersici were identified. One group correlated to ITS type 1, while the other two correlated to ITS type 2. amova indicated high genetic divergence ( FST = 0·40) between the Italian types 1 and 2. These data support the view that the two ITS types represent significant evolutionary entities, although there might be incomplete lineage sorting present. Some isolates of different ITS type were observed to have very similar multilocus AFLP profiles, and some genotypes were intermediate between the two ITS types. This suggests that parasexual hybridization between the two types has had a significant role in shaping the population structure of P. lycopersici. Finally, the average divergence among the populations within the ITS types was very high ( FSC = 0·710, P < 10−5), probably due to strong genetic drift and founder effects combined with restricted migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni, the causal agent of bacterial spot disease of stone fruits, is a regulated quarantine pathogen in the European Union, listed as an A2 pest by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO). Because detection and identification of this pathogen is key for its management and to ensure the production of pest free propagation material, it should be based on reliable tests, in particular when dealing with symptomless material. The current EPPO diagnostic Standard (PM 7/64) does not provide specific molecular methods for detection of this pest. The present paper summarizes the results of a test-performance study (TPS) to validate, at a national level, a detection procedure for this bacterium. A working group was established in order to evaluate the performance criteria for tests included in the current EPPO Standard, and for a conventional PCR. On the basis of the obtained performance criteria, a diagnostic procedure was elaborated and then applied to perform an inter-laboratory comparison. Screening tests for the detection of the bacterium on symptomless plant material based on IF and/or PCR were proposed, in parallel with isolation on agar media. For identification two methods were suggested: a molecular test or IF. This paper reports on the results of the TPS and proposes a flow diagram for the detection and identification of X. arboricola pv. pruni. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a non-IgE-mediated food allergy characterized by severe vomiting, diarrhea, and often failure to thrive in infants. Symptoms typically resolve after the triggering food-derived protein is removed from the diet and recur within few hours after the re-exposure to the causal protein. The diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and a positive food challenge. In this study, we report a case of FPIES to rice in an 8-month-old boy. We performed a doubleblind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) to rice and we measured the intracellular T cell expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4); IL-10, and interferon ? (IFN-?) pre-and post-challenge during an acute FPIES reaction and when tolerance to rice had been achieved. For the first time we describe an increase in T cell IL-4 and decrease in IFN-? expression after a positive challenge with rice (i.e. rice triggered a FPIES attack) and an increase in T cell IL-10 expression after rice challenge 6 months later after a negative challenge (i.e., the child had acquired tolerance to rice) in an 8 month old with documented FPIES to rice. A Th2 activation associated with high IL-4 levels may contribute to the pathophysiology of the disease. On the other hand, T cell-derived IL-10 may play a role in the acquisition of immunotolerance by regulating the Th1 and Th2 responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic acute rhinosinusitis therapy consists mostly of antibiotic treatment because pathogens play a major role. Amoxicillin is the drug of choice for treatment of acute rhinosinusitis, with second- and third- generation cephalosporins, azythromycin, clarithromycin, and telithromycin as possible options, especially in the case of allergy to amoxicillin. If the clinical course suggests that an anaerobic pathogen is more likely, clindamycin or metronidazole can be considered in combination with a broad-spectrum drug. In antimicrobial treatment of chronic sinusitis there is no consensus on treatment length, organism coverage, or which antibiotics are most effective because the bacteriology is variable with polymicrobial anaerobic and aerobic organisms present. Adjuvant therapies need to be proven by additional studies. Chronic rhinosinusitis is heterogeneous and treatment should vary according to the causative factor involved. Short courses of systemic steroids have been found very useful to decrease mucosal swelling and inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis. However, no randomized controlled studies have been performed to validate their efficacy in children. A variety of other agents are used in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis including antihistamines, decongestants, and leukotriene modifiers. To date, there is no good evidence from randomized controlled studies to support the use of any of these agents in the treatment of this disease in either children or adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic dermatitis (AD) affects infants, children, and adults with a wide degree of severity; several scoring systems have been used in trials and clinical practice. Infants and young children have a typical distribution of the lesions, but a correlation among skin surface involvement, intensity and subjective symptoms has not been reported in age groups.To evaluate the clinical features of AD in infants and young children, by using the SCORAD index. A simplified scoring method for clinical practice is also discussed.The SCORAD index was assessed in 63 infants and young children with AD [mean age (±SD) 17.5 ± 11.15 months]; the single parameters of the index were evaluated, and compared with each other. Serum eosinophil cationic protein (s-ECP) and urinary eosinophil protein X (u-EPX) levels were determined and correlated with the SCORAD index.The presence of erythema, edema/papulation, and oozing/crust was significantly high in these patients. A strong positive correlation resulted among the three SCORAD index parameters (extent-intensity:P < 0.001; extent-subjective symptoms:P < 0.001; intensity-subjective symptoms:P < 0.001). S-ECP and u-EPX levels positively correlated to almost every single parameter of the SCORAD index as well as to its total.Distinctive intensity items were found in infants and young children with AD. A strong correlation resulted among the extent, intensity, and subjective symptoms; each of the three parameters was positively correlated with the total SCORAD. Immunologic parameters positively correlated to each of the SCORAD index items, which remains the gold standard for assessing disease severity in clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have confirmed the equivalence of the microvolt T-wave alternans (mTWA) and the electrophysiology (EPS) tests in cardiac disease. No data are available in populations of competitive athletes with arrhythmias that might jeopardize the pursuit of their professional career.Methods: We prospectively studied 100 trained competitive athletes, including elite types (72/100), (mean age +/- standard deviation: 26.1 +/- 4.5 years). Forty-eight of them were wholly normal (Group A, mean age: 24.5 +/- 8.5 years) and 52 of them had severe arrhythmias (Group B, mean age: 28.2 +/- 11.5 years) and were symptomatic in 85% of cases for prolonged palpitations and syncope, but lacked any overt structural heart disease at standardized cardiological screening. All athletes were evaluated with the microvolt T-wave alternans exercise-stress test, using the Heart Wave System with Microvolt Sensors. Group B underwent EPS to evaluate inducibility to sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) during programmed electrical stimulation.Results: In Group A, the mTWA outcome was determinate in 45 subjects (94%) and indeterminate in 3 (6%). No symptomatic event was reported in a follow-up of 36.1 months. In Group B, the mTWA test was positive in 7 symptomatic subjects (15%), indeterminate in 3 (7%), and negative for the remaining 42 subjects (76%). Forty-one of 42 negative mTWA subjects were also negative in the EPS test, without any syncope or sustained VT during 25.3 months of follow-up. In the positive mTWA test subjects, 5 (72%) were positive for inducibility of rapid sustained monomorphic VT in EPS, 1 was positive for severe sustained atrial tachyarrhythmias, and 1 refused EPS. We were able to pronounce a correct diagnosis of lymphocytic myocarditis for only 1 mTWA and EPS-positive subject. For the other 4 positive patients with arrhythmogenic micropathology, severe arrhythmic events were revealed in the follow-up and aggressive hybrid treatment was necessary.Conclusion: Microvolt-TWA study seems to be a useful, noninvasive, and feasible tool for evaluating arrhythmic risk in the athletic population. The mTWA test showed a high negative predictive value, using both EPS and the follow-up observation for severe arrhythmic cardiac events as an endpoint. The positive predictive value was present in a limited number of cases that were, however, subjects with a high risk of sudden arrhythmic death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background A predominance of Th2 response has been suggested in vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), and a high prevalence of IgE-sensitized (IgE-S) patients has been reported (positive skin prick test or serum-specific-IgE). Palpebral and bulbar VKC are considered to be expressions of the same disease and only occasional racial and histopathological differences are described between the two forms. Tear levels of eosinophil cationic proteins have been correlated with the severity of ocular symptoms; however, there is no published study that demonstrates the presence of serum markers of disease activity. Objective This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of IgE-sensitization in palpebral, bulbar and mixed VKC and to determine possible useful markers of disease activity in peripheral circulation. Methods A total of 110 white VKC patients (mean age 8.3 years, range 3.2–18 years) were evaluated for ocular score in the active phase of the disease. Skin prick tests and serum-specific IgE for common allergens, serum-total IgE, peripheral blood eosinophil counts (PBECs) and serum eosinophil cationic protein (s-ECP) were determined. Fifteen age-matched non-IgE-S control children underwent the same determinations. Results s-ECP, PBECs and s-total IgE were significantly higher in IgE-S than in non-IgE-S VKC patients and in non-IgE-S VKC patients than in controls. A lower prevalence of IgE-S patients was found in bulbar vs. tarsal (P = 0. 050) or mixed forms (P = 0.002). The score of giant papillae was strongly correlated with s-ECP levels (P < 0.001) and with PBECs (P = 0.001). Conclusions Our data suggest that an overall eosinophilic response is present in VKC independently of IgE-sensitization; bulbar forms, unlike tarsal and mixed forms, were associated with a low prevalence of IgE-sensitization. Serum ECP was a useful marker of disease activity in tarsal and mixed forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of the study on the sensitivity and the specificity of skin tests compared with drug provocation test (DPT). It states that the sensitivity and specificity of skin tests for non-immediate amoxicillin reactions were 8 and 99.7 percent. It mentions that children with mild non-immediate cutaneous reactions to amoxicillin will not react on DPT.

The article presents the research which studied the cefaclor anaphylaxis in children. The result of the study found that anaphylactic reactions to cefaclor in children are not rare as previously believed and notes that therapy should only be considered after a careful evaluation. Moreover, it stresses that the current study on cefaclor was the most common lactum anaphylaxis in children in which it was responsible for the 16 of 30 experienced reactions by 43 children in the study.

Presents a case report of an exclusively breast-fed girl infant, who developed eczema at 15 days old. Daily diet that the mother imposed on the child following consultation with a naturopathic doctor who conducted a cytotoxic test; Clinical condition of the child upon hospitalization about 20 days into the diet; Potential danger of inappropriate elimination diets in infants with atopic dermatitis.

Examines the prevalence of latex specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated allergy in patients affected by beta-thalassemia. Risk factor for sensitization and allergy to latex; Synthesis of allergen-specific IgE; Frequency of respiratory atopic diseases.

Deals with a study which investigated the persistence of atopic dermatitis (AD) and the development of respiratory allergic disease in a group of children. Tests conducted on the subjects; Groupings of AD patients; Description and symptoms of AD.

Investigates the prevalence of and the risk factors associated with Anisakis simplex (AS) sensitization in children referred to a center for evaluation of allergic symptoms. Presence of immunoglobulin E-mediated diseases; Results of skin prick tests (SPT); Association of male sex, SPT reactivity to aeroallergens and to seafood allergens with AS sensitization.

Describes a child who presented an adverse, immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated reaction to cefaclor and a long persistence of specific IgE to cefaclor. Kinds of reactions caused by cefaclor; Other explanations for the persistence of IgE to cefaclor.

An abstract of the article "First report of Alternaria petroselini on fennel in Italy," by A. Infantino and colleagues is presented.

The article presents an abstract of the plant pathology research "Capparis spinosa – a new host for Sclerotium rolfsii.