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The concept of quality of life (QoL) developed from early studies on subjective wellbeing and satisfaction with life, interpreted as resulting from living conditions, and recognized by means of objective indicators. Indicators have been developed and validated to measure the relationship between quality of life and health Aim: To determine, during an Educational Social Practice, the association between presence of dental caries lesions and its impact on quality of life of adolescents living in rural and urban areas in Argentina. Materials and Method: This was an observational cross-sectional study in (a) a rural area (Tres Isletas; Chaco Province/Schools No. 601 and 477) and (b) an urban area (Villa Soldati; Buenos Aires City/Nuestra Sra. Fátima School). The sample included 40 students from the urban area (UG) and 30 from the rural area (RG). A calibrated researcher (Kappa 0.80) collected the survey data and performed the clinical examinations. The following were recorded: (a) sociodemographic distribution in terms of age and gender; (b) presence of dental biofilm according to Silness and Löe; caries lesions according to ICDAS II /INTCy criteria, and (d) DMFT, total and per component. Quality of life was assessed using the CPQ 11-14r. Statistical processing included calculation of frequency distribution of the variables (X± DS), and chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests to calculate association and comparisons between groups. Results: The sample included 47 girls (67.1%) and 23 boys (32.9%). Distribution according to sex and age did not differ significantly between sites (UG:12.9 years ± 0.5 and RG:11.8 years ±1.1). No significant difference was found between sites for a) plaque biofilm (p=0.759); b) DMFT, total value and per component, or c) individual and grouped ICDAS scores. Percentage analysis of the CPQr 1-14 scores showed significant differences between groups for questionnaire total scores (26.9% ± 2.2 in UG and 4.1% ± 0.8 in RG) and for the different domains. Conclusion: Perceived impact on quality of life caused by dental caries lesions was significantly higher in urban than the rural group, although neither the dental caries process nor the amount of biofilm differed significantly between groups., Competing Interests: The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest regarding the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article, (SAIO.)

Background: In soils, phosphorous (P) mostly exists in fixed/insoluble form and unavailable for plants use in soil solution, hence it is in scarcity. P is fixed in the form of aluminium, iron and manganese phosphates in acidic soils and calcium phosphate in alkaline soils. Phosphate solubilizing bacteria, the ecological engineers play a pivotal role in the mobilization of fixed forms of P by using different mechanisms. The objectives of this study were to evaluate inorganic phosphate solubilizing efficiency and other multiple plant growth promoting traits of Erythrina brucei root nodule endophytic bacteria and to investigate effects of the selected endophytic bacteria on the growth of wheat plant under phosphorous deficient sand culture at greenhouse conditions., Results: Among a total of 304 passenger endophytic bacteria, 119 (39%) exhibited tricalcium phosphate (TCP) solubilization; however, none of them were formed clear halos on solid medium supplemented with aluminum phosphate (Al-P) or iron phosphate (Fe-P). Among 119 isolates, 40% exhibited IAA production. The selected nine potential isolates also exhibited potentials of IAA, HCN, NH 3 and/or hydrolytic enzymes production. All the selected isolates were potential solubilizers of the three inorganic phosphates (Al-P, Fe-P and TCP) included in liquid medium. The highest values of solubilized TCP were recorded by isolates AU4 and RG6 (A. soli), 108.96 mg L -1 and 107.48 mg L -1 , respectively at sampling day3 and 120.36 mg L -1 and 112.82 mg L -1 , respectively at day 6. The highest values of solubilized Al-P and Fe-P were recorded by isolate RG6, 102.14 mg L -1 and 96.07 mg L -1 , respectively at sampling days 3 and 6, respectively. The highest IAA, 313.61 µg mL -1 was recorded by isolate DM17 (Bacillus thuringiensis). Inoculation of wheat with AU4, RG6 and RG5 (Acinetobacter soli) increased shoot length by 11, 17.4 and 14.6%, respectively compared to the negative control. Similarly, 76.9, 69.2 and 53.8% increment in shoot dry weight is recorded by inoculation with RG6, AU4 and RG5, respectively. These nine potential endophytic isolates are identified to Gluconobacter cerinus (4), Acinetobacter soli (3), Achromobacter xylosoxidans (1) and Bacillus thuringiensis (1)., Conclusion: AU4, RG6 and RG5 can be potential bio-inoculants candidates as low cost agricultural inputs in acidic and/or alkaline soils for sustainable crop production., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The legume-rhizobium symbiosis provides Nitrogen (N), while Legume-AMF symbiosis improves Phosphorus (P) supply to plants. This research was conducted to evaluate the symbiotic effectiveness of the Bradyrhizobium spp. and consortial inoculation of plant growth promoting bacteria - Bradyrhizobium shewense (AU27) and Acinetobacter soli (AU4), and arbuscular mycorrhizhal fungi Glomus sp.1 (AMF1) and Acaulospora sp.1 (AMF2), on growth, production and shoot N and P content of Erythrina brucei .The bacterial and mycorrhizal species were evaluated for phyto-beneficial properties in the greenhouse as individual as well as consortial inoculation.. All Bradyrhizobium species were effective for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Consortial inoculations comprising of B. shewense (AU27) +  A. soli (AU4) +  Glomus sp.1 (AMF1) +  Acaulospora sp.1 (AMF2) (T7) increased shoot length and shoot dry weight by 140% and 268%, respectively compared to un-inoculated control. Inoculations that involved B. shewense (AU27) +  A. soli (AU4) increased shoot nitrogen by 260%, and 1200% increment of shoot P was recorded with inoculations of B. shewense (AU27) +  Glomus sp.1 (AMF1) compared to un-inoculated control. These microbial inputs could be candidates for growth enhancement and shoot nitrogen and phosphorus improvement in Erythrina brucei and also as sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture input., Competing Interests: None, (© 2022 The Author(s).)

There has been a spurt in the spread of microbial resistance to antibiotics due to indiscriminate use of antimicrobial agents in human medicine, agriculture, and animal husbandry. It has been realized that conventional antibiotic therapy would be less effective in the coming decades and more emphasis should be given for the development of novel antiinfective therapies. Cysteine rich peptides (CRPs) are broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents that modulate the innate immune system of different life forms such as bacteria, protozoans, fungi, plants, insects, and animals. These are also expressed in several plant tissues in response to invasion by pathogens, and play a crucial role in the regulation of plant growth and development. The present work explores the importance of CRPs as potent antimicrobial agents, which can supplement and/or replace the conventional antibiotics. Different plant parts of diverse plant species showed the presence of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which had significant structural and functional diversity. The plant-derived AMPs exhibited potent activity toward a range of plant and animal pathogens, protozoans, insects, and even against cancer cells. The cysteine-rich AMPs have opened new avenues for the use of plants as biofactories for the production of antimicrobials and can be considered as promising antimicrobial drugs in biotherapeutics., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Interest in the efficient production of soybean, as one of the most important crop plants, is significantly increasing worldwide. Soybean symbioses, the most important biological process affecting soybean yield and protein content, were revitalized due to the need for sustainable agricultural practices. Similar to many crop species, soybean can establish symbiotic associations with the soil bacteria rhizobia, and with the soil fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and other beneficial rhizospheric microorganisms are often applied as biofertilizers. Microbial interactions may importantly affect soybean production and plant health by activating different genomic pathways in soybean. Genomic research is an important tool, which may be used to elucidate and enhance the mechanisms controlling such actions and interactions. This review presents the available details on the genomic research favoring higher soybean production. Accordingly, new technologies applied to plant rhizosphere and symbiotic microbiota, root-plant endophytes, and details about the genetic composition of soybean inoculant strains are highlighted. Such details may be effectively used to enhance soybean growth and yield, under different conditions, including stress, resulting in a more sustainable production., (© 2020 Bentham Science Publishers.)

Background: Increased resting energy expenditure (REE) has been hypothesized to be a potential cause of weight loss in individuals with Crohn's disease (CD). This study aimed to develop and validate new predictive equations for estimating REE in adults with CD., Methods: Adults, ages 18-65 years, with CD were recruited. Anthropometry, indirect calorimetry, and bioimpedance analysis were performed in all patients. Disease activity was assessed by Crohn's Disease Activity Index. The new predictive equations were generated using different regression models. Prediction accuracy of the new equations was assessed and compared with the most commonly used equations., Results: A total of 270 CD patients (159 males, 111 females) were included and randomly assigned to the calibration (n = 180) and validation groups (n = 90). REE was directly correlated with weight and bioimpedance index, whereas the relation with both age and disease activity was inverse. The new equations were suitable for estimating REE at population level (bias: -0.2 and -0.3, respectively). Individual accuracy was good in both models (≥80%, respectively), especially in females; and similar results were shown by some of the selected equations. But, when accuracy was set within ±5%, the new equations gave the highest prediction., Conclusion: The new, disease-specific, equations for predicting REE in individuals with CD give a good prediction accuracy as far as those proposed in the literature for the general population. However, the new ones performed better at the individual level. Further studies are needed to verify the reliability and usefulness of these new equations., (© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

Background & Aims: The assessment of body composition (BC) can be used to identify malnutrition in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of CD patients by assessing BC, phase angle (PhA) and muscle strength. Differences in disease duration and medications were also considered., Methods: Consecutive adult CD patients aged 18-65 years were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Disease activity was clinically defined by the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) in the active and quiescent phases. All participants underwent anthropometry, BC and handgrip-strength (HGS) measurements; additionally, blood samples were taken. Data from CD patients were also compared with age-, sex- and BMI-matched healthy people., Results: A total of 140 CD patients with a mean age of 38.8 ± 13.9 years and a mean body weight of 64.9 ± 12 kg were recruited and compared to controls. The findings showed that all nutritional parameters, especially PhA and HGS, were lower in CD patients than in controls, and these parameters were substantially impaired as disease activity increased. Active CD patients had a lower body weight and fat mass than both the quiescent and control groups. PhA was negatively correlated with age (r = -0.362; p = 0.000) and CDAI (r = -0.135; p = 0.001) but was positively associated with fat free mass (FFM) (r = 0.443; p = 0.000) and HGS (r = 0.539; p = 0.000). Similarly, serum protein markers were lower in the active CD group than in the quiescent group (p < 0.05). Disease duration and medications did not significantly affect nutritional status., Conclusions: BIA-derived PhA is a valid indicator of nutritional status in CD patients, and its values decreased with increasing disease activity. Additionally, small alterations in BC, such as low FFM, and reduced HGS values can be considered markers of nutritional deficiency. Therefore, the assessment of BC should be recommended in clinical practice for screening and monitoring the nutritional status of CD patients., (Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: The safety and effectiveness of a home parenteral nutrition (HPN) program depends both on the expertise and the management approach of the HPN center. We aimed to evaluate both the approaches of different international HPN-centers in their provision of HPN and the types of intravenous supplementation (IVS)-admixtures prescribed to patients with chronic intestinal failure (CIF)., Methods: In March 2015, 65 centers from 22 countries enrolled 3239 patients (benign disease 90.1%, malignant disease 9.9%), recording the patient, CIF and HPN characteristics in a structured database. The HPN-provider was categorized as health care system local pharmacy (LP) or independent home care company (HCC). The IVS-admixture was categorized as fluids and electrolytes alone (FE) or parenteral nutrition, either commercially premixed (PA) or customized to the individual patient (CA), alone or plus extra FE (PAFE or CAFE). Doctors of HPN centers were responsible for the IVS prescriptions., Results: HCC (66%) was the most common HPN provider, with no difference noted between benign-CIF and malignant-CIF. LP was the main modality in 11 countries; HCC prevailed in 4 European countries: Israel, USA, South America and Oceania (p < 0.001). IVS-admixture comprised: FE 10%, PA 17%, PAFE 17%, CA 38%, CAFE 18%. PA and PAFE prevailed in malignant-CIF while CA and CAFE use was greater in benign-CIF (p < 0.001). PA + PAFE prevailed in those countries where LP was the main HPN-provider and CA + CAFE prevailed where the main HPN-provider was HCC (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate that HPN provision and the IVS-admixture differ greatly among countries, among HPN centers and between benign-CIF and cancer-CIF. As both HPN provider and IVS-admixture types may play a role in the safety and effectiveness of HPN therapy, criteria to homogenize HPN programs are needed so that patients can have equal access to optimal CIF care., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease frequently associated with malabsorption and secondary protein-energy malnutrition (PEM)., Methods: Biochemical and clinical data of 63 (34 females, 29 males) patients with PEM due to CD sent to our outpatient unit for nutritional evaluation were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups, according to disease activity. Thirty-eight patients (group A) had the active disease, and 25 patients (group B) suffered from malabsorption resulting from past intestinal resections due to CD. After a physical and hemato-biochemical evaluation at the first visit, all patients received disease-specific personalized dietetic indications. When indicated, oral nutritional supplements, oral/parenteral vitamins, micronutrients, and electrolytes, up to parenteral nutrition, were prescribed., Results: After 1, 3, and 6 months of nutritional therapy, body weight, body mass index (BMI), and serum butyryl-cholinesterase significantly improved in both groups. In 8 out of 13 (61.5%) patients with a cutaneous stoma, intestinal continuity was restored., Conclusions: This study confirms the effectiveness of nutritional rehabilitation and provides information on the time required for nutritional treatment in patients with CD, both during the acute phase and after malabsorption due to intestinal resection.

Patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) on long-term home parenteral nutrition (HPN) chronically receive high fluid volumes directly into the right atrium (RA) through the superior vena cava. We retrospectively evaluated cardiac function measured by routine transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in a population of 26 SBS patients on long-term HPN and compared their data on echocardiograph-derived right heart structure and function, with those of a control group of 26 patients also bearing a central venous catheter (CVC) for other reasons. Results showed that body weight and BMI were significantly higher in the control group. The echocardiographic estimate of RA pressure was higher in HPN patients than in controls ( p = 0.01). An increased estimate of RA pressure indicates the need to consider TTE in the follow-up of long-term HPN patients to detect functional impairment early.

Background: Septic pulmonary embolism (SPE) may be a frequently undetected complication of central venous catheter (CVC)-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs)., Materials and Methods: The incidence of SPE was evaluated in a cohort of non-oncological patients on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) who were hospitalized for a CRBSI from January 2013 to December 2017. The main clinical, microbiological, and radiological features and the therapeutic approach were also described., Results: Twenty-three infections over 51,563 days of HPN therapy were observed, corresponding to an infection rate of 0.45/1000. In 10 out of the 23 cases (43.5%), pulmonary lesions compatible with SPE were identified., Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that a CRBSI can produce asymptomatic SPE with lung infiltrates in 43.5% of the cases, suggesting the need to check for secondary lung infections to choose the most appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

Background and Aims: The study compares the essential amino acid (EAA) composition of different parenteral nutrition (PN) mixtures with whey protein EAA profile and the theoretical daily EAA requirements (set by WHO/FAO/UNU or IAAO method). According to the individual EAA profile, the potential effect of several PN mixtures was evaluated on the skeletal muscle mass (SMM) of patients on home PN., Methods: Eight AA solutions and fifteen complete PN mixtures were considered. Twenty-nine clinically stable patients with short bowel syndrome on home total PN were retrospectively evaluated. SMM was estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis., Results: The prescribed doses of EAA that showed a significant increase in home PN patients muscle mass were considerably greater than the theoretical ones, showing an EAA profile similar to whey protein. At the daily dose of 1 g of total AA s/kg body weight (BW), the considered PN mixtures mostly failed to improve SMM. Only prescribed doses which included more than 0.25 g/kg BW of total BCAA with at least 0.10 g/kg BW leucine, 0.08 g/kg BW isoleucine, and 0.06 g/kg BW methionine showed a significant increase in SMM., Conclusions: The theoretical daily requirement for each EAA was met by all considered PN solutions when the prescribed daily dose of total AAs was set at 1 g/kg BW. Nevertheless, our data suggest that only an increase in total BCAA, also richer in single AA leucine, isoleucine, and methionine, is associated with the maintenance and/or increase of SMM. According to these preliminary observations, we support the prescription of an EAA composition of PN mixtures close to that of whey protein for the preservation of SMM in patients on long-term total PN.

Background & Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the applicability of the ESPEN 16-category clinical classification of chronic intestinal failure, based on patients' intravenous supplementation (IVS) requirements for energy and fluids, and to evaluate factors associated with those requirements., Methods: ESPEN members were invited to participate through ESPEN Council representatives. Participating centers enrolled adult patients requiring home parenteral nutrition for chronic intestinal failure on March 1st 2015. The following patient data were recorded though a structured database: sex, age, body weight and height, intestinal failure mechanism, underlying disease, IVS volume and energy need., Results: Sixty-five centers from 22 countries enrolled 2919 patients with benign disease. One half of the patients were distributed in 3 categories of the ESPEN clinical classification. 9% of patients required only fluid and electrolyte supplementation. IVS requirement varied considerably according to the pathophysiological mechanism of intestinal failure. Notably, IVS volume requirement represented loss of intestinal function better than IVS energy requirement. A simplified 8 category classification of chronic intestinal failure was devised, based on two types of IVS (either fluid and electrolyte alone or parenteral nutrition admixture containing energy) and four categories of volume., Conclusions: Patients' IVS requirements varied widely, supporting the need for a tool to homogenize patient categorization. This study has devised a novel, simplified eight category IVS classification for chronic intestinal failure that will prove useful in both the clinical and research setting when applied together with the underlying pathophysiological mechanism of the patient's intestinal failure., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic intestinal disorder of unknown etiology involving any section of the gastrointestinal tract often associated with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). Increased resting energy expenditure (REE) unmatched by adequate dietary intake is amongst the pathogenetic mechanisms proposed for PEM. Aim of this study was to evaluate REE in CD patients receiving or not immuno-suppressive therapy as compared to controls., Methods: 36 CD patients (22 M and 14 F, age range 18-55 years) clinically stable and without complications since at least 6 month were studied. REE was evaluated by indirect calorimetry and body composition by BIA. Full biochemistry was performed. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (G1 = 12 patients) without and Group 2 (G2 = 24 patients) with immuno-suppressive therapy., Results: The two groups were similar for age, height and BMI whereas significantly differed for weight (G1 vs G2: 56.9 ± 7.44 vs 62.3 ± 8.34 kg), fat free mass (FFM: 40.4 ± 5.73 vs 48.2 ± 7.06 kg), fat mass (FM: 17.0 ± 3.55 vs 13.9 ± 5.54 kg) and phase angle (PA: 5.6 ± 1.4 vs 6.5 ± 1.0°). Serum inflammation parameters were significantly higher in G1 than in G2: hs-PCR: 7.76 ± 14.2 vs 7.16 ± 13.4 mg/dl; alfa 2-protein: 11.7 ± 3.69 vs 9.74 ± 2.08 mg/dl; fibrinogen: 424 ± 174 vs 334 ± 118 mg/dl (p < 0.05). REE was higher in G2 vs G1: 1383 ± 267 vs 1582 ± 253kcal/die (p < 0.05) both in men: 1579 ± 314 vs 1640 ± 203 and women: 1267 ± 140 vs 1380 ± 132. Nevertheless, when corrected for FFM, REE resulted higher in G1 than G2 (34.8 ± 4.89 vs 33.0 ± 4.35 kcal/kg, p < 0.05) group, also higher compared to our, age and sex matched, control population (REE/FFM: 30.9 ± 4.5 kcal/kg)., Conclusions: Our preliminary results show that REE when adjusted for FFM is increased in clinically stable CD patients and mildly reduced by immunosuppressive therapy possibly through a direct action on inflammation and on body composition characteristics., (Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Total gastrectomy (TG) is responsible for symptoms or disturbance of alimentary status (changes in body weight, food intake per meal and frequency of meal per day) which, in turn are responsible for weight loss and malnutrition. The study evaluates the gut hormone responses in totally gastrectomized (TG) patients after a liquid meal test., Methods: Twenty total gastrectomized cancer-free patients (12 M, 8 F, 56.4 ± 10.2 years, BMI 21.4 ± 2.2 kg/m2) and 10 healthy volunteers (4 M, 6 F, 48.0 ± 12.7 years, BMI 26.7 ± 3.0 kg/m2 ) drank a liquid meal (1.25 kcal/mL) at the rate of 50 mL/5' min for a maximum of 30 min. Satiety score was assessed and blood sample was taken at different time points., Results: The time response course, particularly for insulin, glucose-like pepetide-1, and cholecystokinin, significantly differed between TG patients and controls., Conclusions: Our results may help to better understand hormone responses triggered by the faster arrival of nutrients in the small bowel and to explain some post-TG symptoms., (© 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: The prevalence of central venous catheter (CVC)-related blood-stream infections (CRBSI), infecting agents and the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy were evaluated in 172 adult patients on Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) at the Clinical Nutrition Outpatient Unit of Federico II University Hospital in Naples, Italy., Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 127 oncological (74%) and 45 (26%) non-oncological patients, for a total of 53,818 (median 104; range 14-1080) CVC days., Results: Ninety-four CRBSIs were diagnosed on 238 CVC (infection rate 1.74/1000 CVC days). Coagulase negative (CoNs) Staphylococci were the most frequently infecting agents (52.8% as single agent) with 17.1% Staphylococcus epidermidis infections. Eighty-three percent S. epidermidis were beta-lattamase producer (BLACT), 66.6% methicillin-resistant (MR) and 55.5% had a MIC for Vancomicin ≥1. Gram-negative bacteria represented 18.6% infections, fungi 7.1%, finally 15% infections were polymicrobial. Previous catheterizations and the presence of an enterocutaneous stoma were significantly related with a higher infection risk (p < 0.0001 in both cases)., Conclusions: CRBSI and antibiotic resistance of infecting agents remain an important challenge in adult patients on HPN; an active research on strategies to counteract the phenomena is required., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Home Artificial Nutrition (HAN) is a well established extra-hospital therapy, contributing to decreased health care costs, by reducing the number and length of hospitalizations. The knowledge of the epidemiology of HAN helps plan health-care funding and in analyze the factors that can improve HAN service., Subjects and Methods: An update on the prevalence of Home Artificial Nutrition (HAN) in the Campania region (Southern Italy) and patients clinical characteristics has been regularly carried out in the past seven years after a specific regional regulation issued in 2005., Results: Total number of patients on HAN has increased from 355 in April 2005 to 1165 in April 2012 (+228.2%); in particular, patients on Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) increased from 156 in April 2005 to 306 in April 2012 (+96.2%) and patients on Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN) from 199 to 838 (+321.1%) respectively. HEN/HPN ratio in adults has changed from 1.3/1 in April 2005 to 2.7/1 in April 2012, gradually nearing the expected national mean ratio of 5/1 as observed in the 2005 national survey., Conclusions: The specific regional regulation in Campania has contributed to increase the prescription of HAN and to ameliorate its indications; in particular, through the years, HEN is gradually nearing national standards., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Two new arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species, (Glomeromycota) Septoglomus fuscum and S. furcatum, are described and illustrated. Spores of S. fuscum usually occur in loose hypogeous clusters, rarely singly in soil or inside roots, and S. furcatum forms only single spores in soil. Spores of S. fuscum are brownish orange to dark brown, globose to subglobose, (20-)47(-90) μm diam, rarely ovoid, 21-50 × 23-60 μm. Their spore wall consists of a semi-persistent, semi-flexible, orange white to golden yellow, rarely hyaline, outer layer, easily separating from a laminate, smooth, brownish orange to dark brown inner layer. Spores of S. furcatum are reddish brown to dark brown, globose to subglobose, (106-) 138(-167) μm diam, rarely ovoid, 108-127 × 135-160 μm, usually with one subtending hypha that is frequently branched below the spore base, or occasionally with two subtending hyphae located close together. Spore walls consists of a semipermanent, hyaline to light orange outermost layer, a semipermanent, hyaline to golden yellow middle layer, and a laminate, smooth, reddish brown to dark brown innermost layer. None of the spore-wall layers of S. fuscum and S. furcatum stain in Melzer's reagent. In the field, S. fuscum was associated with roots of Arctotheca populifolia colonizing maritime dunes located near Strand in South Africa and S. furcatum was associated with Cordia oncocalyx growing in a dry forest in the Ceará State, Brazil. In single-species cultures with Plantago lanceolata as host plant, S. fuscum and S. furcatum formed arbuscular mycorrhizae. Phylogenetic analyses of the SSU, ITS and LSU nrDNA sequences placed the two new species in genus Septoglomus and both new taxa were separated from described Septoglomus species.

Background: Iron deficiency anemia frequently occurs in gastrectomized patients., Methods: Serum iron levels following the ingestion of a single oral dose of 105 mg elemental iron, taken as ferrous sulfate (FeS) or ferric gluconate (FeG), have been evaluated in 20 gastrectomized patients (and 20 controls). All subjects participated on 2 different test days, 1 month apart: they took a single dose of 105 mg elemental iron as FeS or FeG after a night of fasting. Serum iron concentrations at baseline, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after the oral dose administration were measured., Results: In patients and controls receiving FeG, serum iron levels did not significantly change. After oral ingestion of FeS, patients' serum iron levels gradually increased. The increase in serum iron levels was 148 and 168% at 120 and 180 min in patients (p < 0.0001 for both evaluations), whilst in controls, it was 216% at 120 min and 234% at 180 min, i.e. significantly higher than in gastrectomized patients (p < 0.001 for both evaluations)., Conclusions: In gastrectomized patients, a single oral dose of FeS shows a significant increase in iron serum concentration, albeit lower than in controls. Further studies on a larger sample of patients will be necessary to confirm these results., (Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

The association between Down's syndrome (DS) and celiac disease (CD) has been confirmed by several authors. The sensitivity and specificity of antigliadin antibodies (AGAs), the clinical features of subjects with DS and CD (DS-CD+), the incidence of CD, and the results of serological and molecular class I and II HLA typing were determined in a sample of 57 Sicilian subjects with DS. Six (10.5%) and 17 subjects (29.8%) showed high levels of IgA AGAs and IgG AGAs, respectively. AGAs sensitivity and specificity were lower than in the population without DS. Ten people with DS were submitted to jejunal biopsy, and seven (12.2%) showed CD according to ESPGAN criteria. All seven patients were put on gluten-free diet, followed by rapid disappearance of symptoms. Class I and II HLA serological and molecular typing was carried out in seven DS-CD + subjects, 22 people with DS without CD (DS-CD-), five subjects with CD without DS, and 20 controls. Between DS-CD + and DS-CD- subjects, no statistically significant difference regarding serum HLA class I antigens was found. DQA1*0101 allele appears significantly in DS-CD + patients and deserves to be searched for in a larger sample to assess its meaning in the DS-CD association.

It was reported a combined methodological proposal to test simultaneously activated-NBT and phagocytic index (PI) assay using zymosan particles. Such a method allowed to evaluate these two steps of the phagocytic process in the same cellular population. Comparable results were obtained performing the two methods separately.