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Since the presence of intestinal endometriosis cannot be reliably established by physical examination or the evaluation of intestinal symptoms, imaging techniques are required for the diagnosis of bowel endometriosis. This review evaluates the techniques available for the diagnosis of intestinal endometriosis based on a search of the Medline database and Embase up to February 2010. Several studies have proved that radiological techniques (double contrast barium enema, magnetic resonance imaging, and multidetector computerized tomography enteroclysis) are able to accurately diagnose intestinal endometriosis. Magnetic resonance imaging has the advantage of determining the presence of deep endometriotic lesions in other pelvic locations. Rectal endoscopic ultrasonography can precisely determine the presence of bowel endometriosis but its use is limited by the availability of the equipment required to carry out the exam. Over the last five years, several studies have proved that transvaginal ultrasonography is accurate in the diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis; in addition, this exam is well tolerated by patients and is inexpensive. Therefore, transvaginal ultrasonography should be the first-line investigation in patients with suspected intestinal endometriosis.

Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer, ECB) is a widely recognized pest of several crops over much of the northern hemisphere. Diel flight rhythms of this moth in response to the attractants phenylacetaldehyde (PAA) and sex pheromones were studied in field conditions. Trapping experiments during three seasons (2008, 2009, 2010) were conducted in an area of the Po valley (northern Italy) where maize cultivation is widespread and O. nubilalis E and Z strains live in sympatry. Both ECB males and females were captured by water pan traps baited with PAA and males alone with Z/E pheromone isomers (11-tetradecenyl acetate). Moths caught by traps were counted every three hours, from 18.00 to 06.00 h. Both ECB males and females showed no crepuscular habits. Adults were caught by traps before 21.00 h only at the end of August, when light values were almost zero. Most of females attracted by PAA were trapped early in the night (21.00-24.00 h). Almost all of those females had mated, suggesting that PAA attraction could be related to oviposition. Unlike females, males did not show a diurnal rhythm in response to PAA, i.e. male captures maintained a steady level all night long. Males behaved differently in response to both Z and E pheromone blends; captures were mainly recorded after 24.00 h. This finding is consistent with previous data that demonstrated a gradual increase of pheromone titer and calling behaviour by females during the scotophase, following a decrease of temperature and an increase of relative humidity.

A traditional Italian sweet pepper landrace, ‘Peperone di Voghera’, which faced the risk of extinction, was analyzed for its genetic, phenological, morphological, agronomic and biochemical traits. An extant population was compared with cultivars ‘Quadrato d’Asti’, ‘Cuneo’, and ‘Giallo d’Asti’, cultivated in the same area, in order to evaluate the chance of the landrace recovery. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis demonstrated that Voghera landrace is distinct with respect to reference cultivars, thus excluding extensive genetic contamination and providing a molecular basis of both phenological and biochemical differences. Leaf chlorophyll content is lower, fruits start ripening earlier than controls, and yield (1100-1300 g plant-1) does not significantly differ. Sensitivity to root pathogens, the main factor that led to the decline in the past, does not seem to compromise the future chance of recovery. Vitamin C concentration is high (200-240 mg/100 g) and preserved by cold storage; more than 25% of vitamin C is also kept in pickled fruits. ‘Voghera’ landrace has nutritional and gastronomic properties that can be appreciated by consumers. The high internal genetic variability shown by AFLP analysis indicates that future selection work is necessary to fully maintain the original traits of the landrace and to improve it., En este trabajo se han analizado las características genéticas, morfológicas, fenológicas, agronómicas y bioquímicas de una variedad tradicional italiana de pimiento dulce, 'Peperone di Voghera', en peligro de extinción. Se comparó una población existente con cultivares de la misma zona, 'Quadrato d´Asti', 'Cuneo', y 'Giallo d'Asti', a fin de evaluar la posibilidad de recuperarla. Análisis AFLPs (polimorfismos en la longitud de fragmentos amplificados) demostraron que ´Voghera´ es distinta con respecto a los cultivares de referencia, lo que excluye que haya una amplia contaminación genética y proporciona una base molecular de las diferencias, tanto fenológicas como bioquímicas. Su contenido en clorofila es menor y los frutos comienzan a madurar antes que los controles, pero el rendimiento (1100-1300 g planta-1) no es significativamente diferente. Su sensibilidad a patógenos de la raíz, el principal factor que llevó a su declive en el pasado, no parece poner en peligro la posibilidad de una futura recuperación. La concentración en vitamina C es alta (200-240 mg/100 g) y se preserva en el fruto conservado en cámara frigorífica; también se detecta una buena cantidad (más del 25%) de vitamina C en las frutas encurtidas. 'Voghera' tiene propiedades nutritivas y gastronómicas que pueden ser apreciadas por los consumidores. La alta variabilidad genética interna detectada en los análisis AFLP indica que el trabajo de selección es necesario para mantener plenamente los caracteres originales de la variedad y mejorarla.