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Postoperative rehabilitation after simultaneous anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and opening wedge high tibial osteotomy is a complex concept. Different osteotomy techniques, extremely selected patients, high expectations in returning to previous sport activities, and the different individual physical profile and performances make traditional chronological criteria impractical and unfeasible. This study presents a novel rehabilitation in which functional objective criteria are considered the key factors for standardizing a 4-step protocol. Each step is "individualized", based on the patient's response to the healing processes and to the different training phases, allowing for a safe return to sports competitions. This definitively implies a strict collaboration between patient, surgeon, physician and physiotherapists, as well as thorough and detailed patient education. Due to the high versatility of these new rehabilitation concepts, the application of the "individualized" steps described in this study may be broadened to include different sports medicine knee injuries that may benefit from a specific, detailed and carefully patient-centered rehabilitation project.

Periprosthetic osteolysis is still one of the major limitations of prosthetic joints longevity. The process of this "silent" iatrogenic disease involves both mechanical and biological factors that initiate a local immune response in the periprosthetic tissue that eventually lead to implant loosening and failure. There are many causes of the primary aseptic loosening inside the periprosthetic microenvironment, but the most important elements are the wear debris and the cell-particle interactions. Together with implant position, micromotion, bearings, joint fluid pressure, and increased load on the joints drive the pathogenesis of the disease. This narrative review aims to summarise recent studies describing the biological and mechanical factors in the pathogenesis of osteolysis and some of the current pharmacological attempts to "rescue" a failing implant.

The CEFLES2 campaign during the Carbo Europe Regional Experiment Strategy was designed to provide simultaneous airborne measurements of solar induced fluorescence and CO2 fluxes. It was combined with extensive ground-based quantification of leaf- and canopy-level processes in support of ESA's Candidate Earth Explorer Mission of the "Fluorescence Explorer" (FLEX). The aim of this campaign was to test if fluorescence signal detected from an airborne platform can be used to improve estimates of plant mediated exchange on the mesoscale. Canopy fluorescence was quantified from four airborne platforms using a combination of novel sensors: (i) the prototype airborne sensor AirFLEX quantified fluorescence in the oxygen A and B bands, (ii) a hyperspectral spectrometer (ASD) measured reflectance along transects during 12 day courses, (iii) spatially high resolution georeferenced hyperspectral data cubes containing the whole optical spectrum and the thermal region were gathered with an AHS sensor, and (iv) the first employment of the high performance imaging spectrometer HYPER delivered spatially explicit and multi-temporal transects across the whole region. During three measurement periods in April, June and September 2007 structural, functional and radiometric characteristics of more than 20 different vegetation types in the Les Landes region, Southwest France, were extensively characterized on the ground. The campaign concept focussed especially on quantifying plant mediated exchange processes (photosynthetic electron transport, CO2 uptake, evapotranspiration) and fluorescence emission. The comparison between passive sun-induced fluorescence and active laser-induced fluorescence was performed on a corn canopy in the daily cycle and under desiccation stress. Both techniques show good agreement in detecting stress induced fluorescence change at the 760 nm band. On the large scale, airborne and ground-level measurements of fluorescence were compared on several vegetation types supporting the scaling of this novel remote sensing signal. The multi-scale design of the four airborne radiometric measurements along with extensive ground activities fosters a nested approach to quantify photosynthetic efficiency and gross primary productivity (GPP) from passive fluorescence.

In 1998 a network of 20 regional tuberculosis (TB) laboratories (the Italian Multicentre Study on Resistance to Antituberculosis drugs (SMIRA) network) was established in Italy to implement proficiency testing and to monitor the prevalence of drug resistance nationwide. The network managed 30% of all TB cases reported in Italy each year. The aim of the present report is to describe: 1) the accuracy of drug-susceptibility testing in the network; 2) the prevalence of drug resistance for the period 1998-2000. Data were collected from the network laboratories. Sensitivity to streptomycin and ethambutol increased from the first survey (1998-1999) to the second survey (2000) from 87.7 to 91.9%. Specificity, predictive values for resistance and susceptibility, efficiency and reproducibility were consistent in both surveys. In previously untreated cases, the prevalence of multidrug-resistance was the same in both surveys (1.2%), while a slight decrease from the first to the second survey was observed for monoresistance to rifampicin (from 0.8 to 0.4%) and isoniazid (from 2.9 to 2%). The significant association found between isoniazid resistance and immigration is a useful indicator for both clinicians managing individual tuberculosis cases and public health services planning control strategies.

The objective of our study was to investigate the response of Sangiovese vines (one of the most diffused cultivar in Italy) to different solar UV regimes in open air and how plants grown without UVB and total UV react when exposed to full light conditions. Material and Method. Two years old grapevine plants were grown in 10 l pots under greenhouses covered with Teflon, transparent both to UV and visible wavelengths (Control), Mylar, transparent to wavelengths above 312 nm (-UVB) and LEE 226, transparent to wavelengths above 400 nm (-UVB/-UVA). Plant were fertilized and maintained in well watered conditions. Meteorological parameters, outside and inside greenhouses, were monitored and periodically spectral measurements in the range 290 to 800 nm were performed outside and inside each greenhouse to check spectral transparency of filters and PAR irradiance. Before bud break 20 plants were positioned both under Lee and Mylar filters while 10 plants were placed under Teflon. On July 9th 10 plants from Lee and 10 from Mylar were moved under Teflon in order to stimulate possible physiological reactions to the new environment. Leaf discs from the fully expanded 9th leaf from the bottom were taken and used for extraction of UV-B absorbing compounds in a mixture of HCl:methanol:water; absorption spectra were determined with a UV-visible spectrophotometer and absorbance was referred to both unit leaf area and unit of fresh and dry weight. Moreover epidermal flavonoids content, expressed in terms of FLAV-Index, was estimated using a non destructive approach by means of a Multiplex portable fluorimetric device. The photosynthetic properties were analyzed by the fluorescence of the chlorophyll a during the season: direct fluorescence parameters (JIP-test) were measured in different aged-leaves. Photosynthetic pigments were extracted from 5 leaf discs (1 cm2) per leaf with DMF and the absorbance of extracted solutions was read at 647, 664 and 480 nm with a DU spectrophotometer after 48 h of extraction at 4 °C. Results. Mean daily temperature differences measured under the three greenhouses were lower than 0.6°C.Temperature and humidity difference between outside and inside greenhouses not excided 2°C and 8% respectively. On July 9th, after 14 weeks of treatment, the 9th leaf of the control showed the UV-B absorbing compounds content statistically higher than both -UVB and -UVB/-UVA as confirmed also by FLAV-I data. The maximum quantum yield efficiency in the dark-adapted state (Fv/Fm) in plants -UVB was minor than in others light conditions. This difference was significant in younger leaves. On July 24th leaves of -UV-B moved under Teflon greenhouse increased their Fv/Fm reaching the control while -UVA/-UVB plants didn't show any significant change. UV-absorbing compounds measured on mature leaves both with destructive and non destructive method showed only a partial recover compared with control which remained anyway significantly higher. After 15 days mature leaves previously exposed to -UVB and -UVA/-UVB appeared unable to react to the new radiative regime increasing their content of UV-B absorbing compounds up to reach the level of leaves grown under full light; even several weeks later, on September 10th, these differences were still present. UV-B absorbing compounds estimated by means of the FLAV-I on younger leaves showed a different behaviour: on July 24th leaves of plants exposed to -UVB and -UVA/-UVB treatment was significantly lower than control but plants that were moved under Teflon greenhouse showed a partial recover relative to control whose level was reached finally on September 10th.

Background and Aims: Monitoring of anthocyanins (Anth) in winegrape (Vitis vinifera L.) is fundamental for the production of top-quality red wines. This work was aimed at testing a new fluorescence-based sensor for Anth detection in the vineyard. Significance of the Study: The present study showed a new important innovative technology for viticulture. The sensor evaluation of the large spatial and temporal heterogeneity in Anth accumulation can be useful as support parameter in the harvest date decision or for vineyard zoning of phenolic maturity. Methods and Results: Anth in grape (cv. Aleatico) bunches attached to the vine were monitored non-destructively in the field using a fluorescence-based sensor during the 2008 and 2009 seasons and under different water regimes. The ANTH(RG) index = log(far-red-fluorescence(R)/far-red-fluorescence(G)), with fluorescence signals excited with red (R) and green (G) light, was inversely correlated through an exponential function (r2 = 0.875) to the Anth concentration derived from the HPLC analysis of berry skin extracts. ANTH(RG) was effective in detecting the earlier ripening process in 2009 with respect to 2008 and differences in the Anth accumulation between seasons and in relation to different water regimes. Water deficit imposed in 2009 enhanced Anth concentration in berries because of a reduction in berry size but also an increase of Anth biosynthesis. This effect was observed by both destructive and ANTH(RG) non-destructive measurements. Conclusions: Our results show that the employed fluorescence sensor represents a reliable, rapid and non-invasive tool for monitoring and determining Anth accumulation in situ.

Chlorophyll fluorescence excitation techniques have been used in plant science for more than one decade to non-destructively estimate phenolic compounds in the epidermal cell layer. These techniques have been used here to evacuate the effect of different light intensities and spectral quality on the accumulation of ortho-dihydroxylated flavonoids in Phyllirea latifolia L., Myrtus communis L. and Ligustrum vulgare L. In a first experiment, chlorophyll fluorescence excitation spectra were measured(with a double arm optical fiber bundle connected to a spectrofluorimeter) on the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces of container-grown P. latifolia and M. communis exposed to 20% or 100% full sunlight. Differences in epidermal absorption spectra (referred to as epidermal absorption spectra throughout the paper) were then calculated from the relative chlorophyll fluorescence excitation spectra. This allowed comparing the content of UV-absorbing compounds between differentially irradiated leaves as well as between adaxial and abaxial epidermal layers. The absorption spectra were characterized by a band centered at 360–380nm,which was greater in sun than in shade leaves and in the adaxial than in the abaxial surfaces, irrespective of species. Based upon HPLC-DAD and HPLC–MS analyses of leaf extracts and UV-spectral features of individual flavonoids, we conclude that quercetin luteolin and myricetin derivatives were responsible for the observed light-induced changes in the spectral features of examined tissues. In a second experiment, we grew L. vulgare potted plants at 30% or85% full sunlight in the presence or in the absence of UV radiation. We measured the absorbance characteristics at 370nm of three leaf-pairs located in the apical portion of each shoot, using a portable fluorimetric sensor, the Multiplex®. This allowed estimating, non-destructively, an index closely related to the concentration of epidermal flavonols and flavones having an ortho-dihydroxyl substitution in theB-ring. This index was greater in leaves growing at 85% than at 30% sunlight, irrespective of UV irradiance. When plants acclimated for 3 weeks to 30% sunlight, in the presence or in the absence of UV irradiance ,were transferred to 85% sunlight, the flavonoid index exponentially increased, reaching a maximum within 10days. On the whole, our experiments conclusively show that light-responsive flavonoids are mostly the dihydroxy B-ring-substituted structures. These flavonoids are the most effective, among the wide array of flavonoid structures, in preventing the generation and scavenging reactive oxygen species. As a consequence, we suggest that flavonoids do not merely serve as UV-screening agents, but behave as ROS-detoxifying agents in the mechanisms of photoprotection

The interaction of the model flavonoid glycoside rutin with the flavonoid reagent diphenylborinic acid 2-aminoethyl ester (DPBA) was investigated using a combination of HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis, UV-visible spectroscopy, and semiempirical calculations. Mass spectra and spectroscopic data made it possible to describe the complexation pathway as addition of diphenylboron groups to the two available 3',4'-o-diphenolic and the 5-hydroxy-4-keto coordinating sites of rutin. Semiempirical calculations were carried out to obtain the conformation of the most stable DPBA/rutin adducts. The results showed that a number of complexation dynamics can occur as a function of the characteristics of the medium (type and pH of the solvent) and of the amount of DPBA. This work suggests the possibility of substantially improving existing procedures for recognition of flavonoid compounds by choice of suitable experimental conditions.

Here, we offer evidence that may challenge the view that light-inducible ‘UV-absorbing flavonoids’ function primarily in attenuating short-wavelength solar UV-B radiation. We propose that UV-absorbing flavonoids serve an important antioxidant function in photoprotection. Our suggestion is based upon: the UV-screening and antioxidant properties of UV-inducible flavonoids; their accumulation in the mesophyll, not only in epidermal cells following sunlight exposure; the minor role of effective UV attenuators, such as hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, in the response of plants to sunlight irradiance; and the high capacity of antioxidant flavonoid structures to regulate auxin movement.