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The discovery of exsiccata no 632 of De Notaris’s Erbario Crittogamico Italiano now provides a lectotype for Sellaphora nigri (De Notaris) C.E. Wetzel & Ector, a common and widely distributed freshwater species originally described from the River Po (Italy). The lectotype takes precedence over the neotype previously designated by Wetzel and co-authors. New observations were made using light and scanning electron microscopy. A few notes on diatoms described in Erbario Crittogamico Italiano are briefly presented, along with illustrations of species present in the original protologue, including Nitzschia amphibia var. padana De Notaris nomen nudum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of the non-reversed saphenous vein has not been properly evaluated yet, for what concerns the features of length and application. In the reported series this technique has been employed for the reconstruction of arterial segments in various anatomic sites. The mean follow-up was 10 months. Between November 1987 and September 1993 at the Department of Vascular Surgery of Pietra Ligure and Imperia 39 arterial grafts with the use of non-reversed autologous saphenous vein were performed, for the treatment of arteriosclerotic, traumatic or aneurysmatic diseases. On the basis of the outcomes (70 to 100% patency of the grafts found at the follow-up), pro and cons of this technique is weighed up and some guidelines about the procedure of choice (among the non-reversed, in situ or reversed saphenous vein) are settled, keeping in mind the different variations who must influence and direct the surgeons' choice (venous diameter, features of the site to revascularize etc.).

The authors outline their experience with reference to the treatment of segmentary lesions at the level of the iliac artery. They analyse a series of 93 patients undergoing PTA. In 85 cases it was possible to conclude the procedure: 4 patients presented a small occlusion and 81 stenosis which was associated with femoro-popliteal occlusion in 35 cases. The authors analyse the results using life tables and show that treatment is optimal for the common iliac artery whereas the percentage of restenosis increases parallel to progress in a distal direction. In conclusion, the authors affirm that the procedure is safe and in order to improve results, above all at the level of the external iliac artery, il will probably be necessary in the future to use additional endovascular techniques such asm for example, the systematic use of stent.

The incidence of prosthesis infection in the groin ranges between 1 and 3%, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Contamination, irrespective of whether it is endogenous or exogenous, may occur during surgery of afterwards due to a secondary bacterial load which is often associated with a traumatic surgical technique for tissues, often in emergency surgery or re-operations. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Over the past 5 years a total of 410 prosthetic alloplastic grafts have been made by our Division of Vascular Surgery with at least one anastomosis at an inguinal level. The materials used for prosthesis were dacron and PTFE. Thirty-one infections were observed in the groin of which 11 involved the prosthesis and 20 were apparently restricted to the superficial and deep layer of the dermis. A cell culture test and antibiogram was always performed. Surgical or medical therapy (loco-regional + general) was used according to individual cases. RESULTS. With regard to the 11 patients with manifest infections of the prosthesis, only trans-obturator bypass surgery gave positive long-term results, whereas other operations (femoro-femoral bypass, axillo-popliteal bypass) were not satisfactory. Of the other 20 patients treated using loco-regional and general medical therapy, 9 developed pseudo aneurysm over time for which it was then necessary to resort to surgery. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION. Currently there is no universally accepted treatment protocol for the management of prosthesis infection. However, it is generally considered useful to isolate any pathological agent (using routine biopsies of arterial wall or thrombo-endoluminal fragments during the primary operation) before infection can develop so as to be able to commence specific antibiotic therapy. In this context the authors underline the more devastating action of some bacteria (pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus) in comparison to others (Staphylococcus epidermidis). Turning to therapeutic measures, when there are anatomical grounds and with the greatest possible respect for periarterial tissues, it is considered that trans-obturator bypass is preferable in the presence of manifest infection of the prosthesis, whereas medical therapy can be used (loco-regional + general) if infection is limited to the surface layers of the inguinal area. Possible complications over time may be corrected using surgery and in situ reconstruction if infection is no longer present.

In this contribution, new data concerning algae, bryophytes, fungi and lichens of the Italian flora are presented. It includes new records and confirmations for the algal genera Acetabularia, Nitella, and Nitellopsis for the bryophyte genera Drepanocladus, Fissidens, Hookeria, and Weissia, the fungal genera Alnicola, Arthonia, Cortinarius, Inocybe, Leucoagaricus, Neohygrocybe, and Puccinia and the lichen genera Bacidina, Chaenotheca, Flavoplaca, Gyalecta, Heterodermia, Rinodina, Scytinium, and Squamarina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contributions towards a new systematics of the lichen family Thelotremataceae I. The lichen family Thelotremataceae in Africa. The present volume is an attempt to bring African lichens and lichenology to the attention of the wider community, while at the same time promoting the study of lichens and lichenology within the continent itself. In the early 20th century Paul Andries van der Byl collected lichens extensively (van der Byl [84], [85], [86], [87]), and in 1950 Ethel Doidge included lichens in her monumental compendium of southern African fungi (Doidge [32]). Luciana Zedda and co-workers have carried out some important work on terricolous lichen communities in Namibia and NW South Africa (e.g. Zedda & Rambold [93]; Zedda I et al i . [Extracted from the article]

In this contribution, new data concerning bryophytes, fungi and lichens of the Italian flora are presented. It includes new records and confirmations for the algal genus Chara, for the bryophyte genera Bryum, Grimmia, Cephaloziella, Hypnum, Nogopterium, Physcomitrium, Polytrichastrum, Rhynchostegiella, Saelania, and Schistostega, the fungal genera Cortinarius, Lentinellus, Omphalina, and Xerophorus, and the lichen genera Acarospora, Agonimia, Candelariella, Cladonia, Graphis, Gyalolechia, Hypogymnia, Lichinella, Megalaria, Nephroma, Ochrolechia, Opegrapha, Peltigera, Placidium, Ramalina, Rhizoplaca, Ropalospora, Strangospora, Toniniopsis, Usnea, and Zahlbrucknerella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To define a consensual approach for the conservative treatment of patients C0s-C3. Method: The project was structured into two phases. The first one involved a group of Italian specialists in angiology and/or vascular surgery with the aim to compare their therapeutic choices in the management of patients in CEAP C0s-C3. The second phase used a Delphi consensus in order to elaborate practical statements on the conservative management of these patients. Results: The first phase involved a group of 166 Italian specialists while the second phase involved a Steering Committee of 6 specialists and a panel of 20 specialists. At the end of the third round, a consensus >80% was reached on seven assertions. Conclusion: Seven statements have been drafted by a group of Italian specialists to provide physicians with practical guidance for the conservative treatment of C0s-C3 patients. Outstanding issues on the management of these patients were identified, confirming the urgent need of further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the lichen genus Placolecis are discovered in China, namely P. kunmingensis An. C. Yin & Li S. Wang and P. sublaevis An. C. Yin & Li S. Wang. The new combination P. loekoesiana (S.Y. Kondr., Farkas, J.J. Woo & Hur) An. C. Yin is proposed. Placolecis kunmingensis is characterized by having simple, spherical or ellipsoid, hyaline spores, and pear-shaped pycnidia; while P. sublaevis can be distinguished by its thallus forming larger aggregations with slightly flattened lobes at the thallus margin, and urn-shaped pycnidia. Descriptions, a phylogenetic tree and a key are provided for all the known Placolecis species in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, new data concerning algae, bryophytes, fungi, and lichens of the Italian flora are presented. It includes new records and confirmations for the algae genus Chara, the bryophyte genera Homalia, Mannia, and Tortella, the fungal genera Cortinarius, Russula, and Stereum, and the lichen genera Cetrelia, Cladonia, Enterographa, Graphis, Lecanora, Lepraria, Multiclavula, Mycomicrothelia, Parmelia, Peltigera, Pleopsidium, Psora, Scytinium, Umbilicaria, and Rhizocarpon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, new data concerning bryophytes, fungi, and lichens of the Italian flora are presented. It includes new records and confirmations for the bryophyte genera Barbula, Fissidens, Gymnostomum, Jungermannia, Riccia, and Scapania, the fungal genera Hyalopsora and Urocystis and the lichen genera Arthothelium, Chaenotheca, Lepraria, Lobaria, Miriquidica, Parmelia, Rinodina, Solenopsora, Thelopsis and Xanthoparmelia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, new data concerning bryophytes, fungi, and lichens of the Italian flora are presented. It includes new records and confirmations for the bryophyte genera Diplophyllum and Ptychostomum, the fungal genera Arrhenia, Gymnosporangium, and Sporidesmium and the lichen genera Arthonia, Coenogonium, Flavoplaca, Gyalolechia, Parmotrema, Peltigera, Pterygiopsis, Squamarina, Tornabea, and Waynea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lichen genus Solenopsora occurs predominantly in temperate and subtropical regions of the world, and the centre of diversity and distribution is in the Mediterranean, Macaronesian, and Madrean floristic regions. Taxonomic treatment of several taxa has varied over time and the concepts lack clarity. Focusing on multilocus sequence data, morphology, anatomy, chemistry, and ecological preferences, the present study investigates European Solenopsora taxa to obtain the first insights into their genetic variation and relationships. Our results show discrepancy between the number of currently recognized taxa in Europe and the number of genetic entities identified. We recognize eight species in the genus in Europe: Solenopsora candicans, Solenopsora cesatii (including Solenopsora carpatica), Solenopsora grisea, Solenopsora holophaea, Solenopsora liparina, Solenopsora marina, Solenopsora olivacea, and Solenopsora vulturiensis. We gathered evidence to recognize S. liparina, an edaphic vicariant of S. candicans confined to ultramafic rocks, as a separate species. We disclosed a previously unknown sister relationship between S. grisea and S. vulturiensis. Taxonomic synopses, geographical distribution, and an identification key for the treated taxa are provided. Phylogenetic analyses revealed two major lineages among the European Solenopsora spp., differentiated by thallus organization, the presence/absence of rhizines on lower side of the thallus, secondary chemistry, and anatomy of upper cortex. The generic circumscription and phylogenetic position, however, appear problematic and additional studies with increased sampling including related genera are needed. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 176, 203-223. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous spike and wave during slow wave sleep (CSWS) is an epileptic encephalopathy that presents with neurocognitive regression and clinical seizures, and that demonstrates an electroencephalogram (EEG) pattern of electrical status epilepticus during sleep, as denned by the Commission on Classification and Terminology of the International League Against Epilepsy 1989. CSWS is an age-related condition, typically presenting in children around 5 years of age, with clinical seizures which progress within 2 years to a severe epileptic encephalopathy. The pathophysiology of CSWS is not completely understood, but the corticothalamic neuronal network involved in sleep patterns is thought to be involved. Genetic predisposition and injury in early development are thought to play etiological roles. Treatment strategies have involved traditional anticonvulsants, hormonal therapies, and other newer techniques. Outcomes are fair, and the thought is that earlier diagnosis and intervention preserve neurocognitive development, as in the case of other epileptic encephalopathies. Further understanding of the mechanisms of CSWS may lead to improved therapeutic options and thus outcomes of children with CSWS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lichen family Teloschistaceae is one of the larger families of lichenized fungi. Currently it includes one very large heterogenous genus, Caloplaca, with some 1000 or more species with a vast variation in morphology, anatomy and chemistry. The rest of the family is split into 10-15 smaller genera, each with 20 or fewer species. There is no modern classification of the family based on molecular data. Here we attempt a first phylogenetic evaluation of a large part of the family, including a total of 337 species. Of these, 162 were used in a combined phylogenetic analysis of the ribosomal RNA sequence markers nrITS, nrLSU and mrSSU, using Bayesian inference. We also analysed all species using nrITS data, split into four different analyses. As a result we propose a new classification of the family, where a total of 39 genera are recognized, of which 31 are newly described or resurrected. The new genera are: Athallia, Austroplaca, Bryoplaca, Calogaya, Cerothallia, Flavoplaca, Gondwania, Haloplaca, Orientophila, Pachypeltis, Parvoplaca, Rufoplaca, Shackletonia, Scutaria, Sirenophila, Solitaria, Squamulea, Stellarangia, Teloschistopsis, Usnochroma, Variospora, Villophora and Wetmoreana. Resurrected genera are Blastenia, Dufourea, Follmannia, Gyalolechia, Leproplaca, Polycauliona, Pyrenodesmia and Xanthocarpia. The species Orientophila subscopularis is described as new. A third subfamily, Teloschistoideae, is proposed to accommodate the genus Teloschistes and related genera, parallel to the two previously recognized subfamilies Xanthorioideae and Caloplacoideae. We also show the large plasticity in both morphological and anatomical characters between closely related species within genera, indicating the low value of these as evolutionary markers. The secondary chemistry is a better marker in some parts of the family. We recognize a large number of geographically delimited clades with clear centres of evolution, but often showing large variation in morphology and anatomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]