Physiological and Transcriptomic Evaluation of Drought Effect on Own-Rooted and Grafted Grapevine Rootstock (1103P and 101-14MGt)

Grapevines worldwide are grafted onto Vitis spp. rootstocks in order to improve their tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Thus, the response of vines to drought is the result of the interaction between the scion variety and the rootstock genotype. In this work, the responses of genotypes to drought were evaluated on 1103P and 101-14MGt plants, own-rooted and grafted with Cabernet Sauvignon, in three different water deficit conditions (80, 50, and 20% soil water content, SWC). Gas exchange parameters, stem water potential, root and leaf ABA content, and root and leaf transcriptomic response were investigated. Under well-watered conditions, gas exchange and stem water potential were mainly affected by the grafting condition, whereas under sever water deficit they were affected by the rootstock genotype. Under severe stress conditions (20% SWC), 1103P showed an "avoidance" behavior. It reduced stomatal conductance, inhibited photosynthesis, increased ABA content in the roots, and closed the stomata. The 101-14MGt maintained a high photosynthetic rate, limiting the reduction of soil water potential. This behavior results in a "tolerance" strategy. An analysis of the transcriptome showed that most of the differentially expressed genes were detected at 20% SWC, and more significantly in roots than in leaves. A core set of genes has been highlighted on the roots as being related to the root response to drought that are not affected by genotype nor grafting. Genes specifically regulated by grafting and genes specifically regulated by genotype under drought conditions have been identified as well. The 1103P, more than the 101-14MGt, regulated a high number of genes in both own-rooted and grafted conditions. This different regulation revealed that 1103P rootstock readily perceived the water scarcity and rapidly faced the stress, in agreement with its avoidance strategy.

How Do Novel M-Rootstock (Vitis Spp.) Genotypes Cope with Drought?

Most of the vineyards around the world are in areas characterized by seasonal drought, where water deficits and high temperatures represent severe constraints on the regular grapevine growth cycle. Although grapevines are well adapted to arid and semi-arid environments, water stress can cause physiological changes, from mild to irreversible. Screening of available Vitis spp. genetic diversity for new rootstock breeding programs has been proposed as a way for which new viticulture challenges may be faced. In 2014, novel genotypes (M-rootstocks) were released from the University of Milan. In this work, the behavior of M1, M3 and M4 in response to decreasing water availabilities (80%, 50% and 20% soil water content, SWC) was investigated at the physiological and gene expression levels, evaluating gas exchange, stem water potential and transcript abundances of key genes related to ABA (abscisic acid) biosynthesis (VvZEP, VvNCED1 and VvNCED2) and signaling (VvPP2C4, VvSnRK2.6 and VvABF2), and comparing them to those of cuttings of nine commercial rootstocks widely used in viticulture. M-rootstocks showed a change at physiological levels in severe water-stressed conditions (20% soil water content, SWC), reducing the stomatal conductance and stem water potential, but maintaining high photosynthetic activity. Water use efficiency was high in water-limiting conditions. The transcriptional changes were observed at 50% SWC, with an increment of transcripts of VvNCED1 and VvNCED2 genes. M-rootstocks showed similar behavior to 1103P and 110R rootstocks, two highly tolerant commercial genotypes. These rootstocks adopted a tolerant strategy to face water-stressed conditions.

Iron deficiency stimulates anthocyanin accumulation in grapevine apical leaves

Iron chlorosis is a diffuse disorder affecting Mediterranean vineyards. Beside the commonly described symptom of chlorophyll decrease, an apex reddening was recently observed. Secondary metabolites, such as anthocyanins, are often synthetized to cope with stresses in plants. The present work aimed to evaluate grapevine responses to iron deficiency, in terms of anthocyanin metabolism (reflectance spectrum, total anthocyanin content, HPLC profile and gene expression) in apical leaves of Cabernet sauvignon and Sangiovese grown in hydroponic conditions. Iron supply interruption produced after one month an increasing of anthocyanin content associated to a more stable profile in both cultivars. In Cabernet sauvignon, the higher red pigment accumulation was associated to a lower intensity of chlorotic symptoms, while in Sangiovese, despite the activation of the metabolism, the lower anthocyanin accumulation was associated to a stronger decrease in chlorophyll concentration. Gene expression data showed a significant increase of anthocyanin biosynthesis. The effects on the expression of structural and transcription factor genes of phenylpropanoid pathway were cultivar dependent. F3H, F3'H, F3'5'H and LDOX genes, in Cabernet sauvignon, and AOMT1 and AOMT genes, in Sangiovese, were positively affected by the treatment in response to iron deficiency. All data support the hypothesis of an anthocyanin biosynthesis stimulation rather than a decreased degradation of them due to iron chlorosis.

[Liposarcoma of the leg]

The Authors report an interesting case of liposarcoma of the leg and review the international Literature. Moreover, a particular analysis of different aspects such as anatomy, clinic, diagnosis and treatment has been carried out.

[Digestive hemorrhage from a duodenal neuroendocrine tumor. Diagnostic-therapeutic features and emergency surgical strategy]

The Authors report a rare case of duodenal neoplasia in a 17 year old boy. The patient was admitted in an emergency setting for hemorrhagic shock and duodenal perforation. Laparotomy was performed and a huge perforated neoplasia of the duodenum was found. Conservative approach was preferred, since the intraoperative histology was unuseful in choosing the better procedure: thus just a tumorectomy and closure of the duodenum were performed. Pathology examination demonstrated a neuroendocrine primitive duodenal tumors not well differentiated and with high grade of malignancy. The Authors discuss the role of the elements, clinical features and pathology, as well as emergency and postoperative management.

[Pica and intestinal occlusion: a clinical case]

Accidental or voluntary foreign bodies ingestion is a frequent reported event in emergency departments. Complication, foreign body shape related are not often observed and, once occurred, just few a cases need an open surgery approach, about 1%. The Authors report the case of a young woman with pica admitted to their Department in an emergency setting for acute intestinal obstruction due to the ingestion of not specified amount of elastics, which required an open surgery operation.

["Strawberry" gallbladder: review of the literature and our experience]

The term "strawberry gallbladder" refers to an anatomo-pathological aspect which is included in the wider chapter of gallbladder cholesterolosis. Introducing their experience, the Authors summarize the hypotheses through the years proposed about the etiopathogenesis of this condition the clinical symptoms that it can produce and the diagnostic strategies used to identify it. Moreover the Authors underline that the "strawberry gallbladder" continues to be reported with a significant frequency. They also confirm the opportunity of surgical treatment of symptomatic patients as a valid alternative to medical therapy which is not always effective, it is long lasting, often complex and not completely side effects lacking.

Parietal sierosa for protecting colonic suture lines. Technical note

Suture line leakage is a frequent, serious problem in colon surgery. We propose the use of a flap of the parietal peritoneum from the paracolic gutter, adjacent to the operative site, to protect right and left colon suture lines. The advantage of this method is that it permits complete exclusion of the sutured intestine from the peritoneal cavity and avoids the risks of leakage from an intestinal suture line within the peritoneal cavity.

[Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE or watermelon stomach): a case report]

Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE), recently described in literature, is an important cause of gastric bleeding. A case of great gastrectasia with vascular ectasia in an elderly male patient is reported. The lesion was characterized by great linear and brush folds along the antrum and body of the stomach, Endoscopically, this folds seems like the watermelon streakings. It could be an acquired lesion probably linked to traumatism on gastric mucosa.

Intraductal papillary carcinoma of the parotid gland with low malignancy

A peculiar case of papillary carcinoma arising in the parotid gland is reported. A 68-year-old woman presented with a right, painless, parotid mass, measuring approximately 3 cm in greatest diameter. A conservative parotidectomy was performed. Histologically, the neoplasm showed exophytic papillary projections into a cavity. The cells were focally suggestive of epidermoidal differentiation, whereas a transitional differentiation was noted in other portions, as in bladder papilloma. Immunohistochemical studies showed strong positivity of the neoplastic cells for cytokeratin and weak positivity for PCNA and Mib-1. We classified this neoplasm among the papillary tumors with a low-grade of malignancy.

[The diagnostic-therapeutic picture in liver injuries: a review of the literature and clinical cases]

Approximately 80% of liver trauma cases have a good prognosis and do not create decision-making problems for the surgeon, while in the remaining 20% the correct choice still represents a problem. Recently there has been a trend toward more conservative surgical management with emphasis on hemostasis and debridement, as well as a move toward a non-surgical alternative (surgical abstention) where feasible, relying in such cases on first-line CT scans for trauma evaluation. We report 51 cases of liver trauma observed in the period 1985-1993 graded according to the AAST Liver Injury Scale as follows: 12 grade I lesions (23.5%), 7 grade II lesions (13.7%), 19 grade III lesions (37.3%), 7 grade IV lesions (13.7%), and 6 grade V lesions (11.8%). In managing these cases we relied on two first-line diagnostic procedures: diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) and CT scans. DPL, performed on 10 blunt trauma victims with unstable vital signs, was positive in 7 who thus underwent immediate surgery, and negative in 3 who subsequently underwent CT scan. Another 14 blunt trauma victims with stable vital signs underwent first-line CT scanning. In the event of a CT grade III or IV lesion patients underwent surgery, while patients with a CT grade I or II lesion were followed expectantly. Deaths (14) occurred only among patients with grade III or IV lesions (including 9 multiple trauma victims) who underwent surgery.

[Etiopathogenetic and histopathologic aspects of acute necrotico-hemorrhagic pancreatitis in experimental animals]

In this study, the Authors have provoked experimentally acute pancreatitis in the rat by different methods, in order to find out morphological modifications of the pancreas in the initial stage of the disease. In case of biliary and pancreatic duct obstruction with pure pancreatic reflux, both oedema and inflammatory infiltrations were evident, whereas, in the presence of biliary reflux too, more serious histological features were detected. In conclusion, the first sign of alteration in acute pancreatitis could be represented by the association of intraductal hypertension and pure pancreatic reflux.

[Ultrasonography and biliary calculi: a retrospective study on the diagnostic reliability]

The Authors evaluated diagnostic reliability of echotomography in biliary tract lithiasis, reviewing a series of 130 patients (out of 171) who were surgically treated; 30 had proved to be affected with biliary main tract stones. A high rate of false negatives was documented as related to the diagnosis of lithiasis of the main biliary duct.

[Preliminary results of tumor marker monitoring in patients with colorectal carcinoma]

A study relating to the preliminary results of the measurement of tumoral markers (TPA, GICA) in patients suffering from colorectal carcinoma is reported. It is possible to state, on the basis of this experience, that the use of the two tumoral markers is justified in the preoperative period above all as a prognostic indicator, while greater clinical utility would seem to derive from their use through serial determinations, in the postoperative follow-up and in the monitoring of patients undergoing antiblastic and radiation treatment.

[Supplemental proposal in the surgical treatment of liver injury. Experimental studies]

Liver resections pose a great variety of problems, not least repair of the cut. The various reconstruction modalities are reviewed and personal experience in twenty rats submitted to surgical removal of the median lobe of the liver with cover of the sectioned surface by means of omental mesh autograft is reported. The results were flattering for the absence of significant complications and for the haematological and haematochemical data obtained which confirm low easily the graft takes, its regenerative potential and the modulator action of peritoneal repair processes.

[Surgical proposals concerning omental mesh graft. Experimental studies]

In general surgery, the advantages deriving from the utilisation of omental graft are attributable to the ease with which it takes, its regenerating potential and the modulator action on tissue repair. Personal experience regarding the peritoneization and covering of surgical liver surfaces is reported and the use in various sectors of surgery of omental mesh graft is recommended.

[Etiopathogenetic and physiopathological considerations on biliary peritonitis]

On the basis of a survey of the literature, an etiopathogenetic classification of biliary peritonitis is presented, with particular reference to forms without perforation. The variability of clinical picture and the difficulties of correct pre-operative diagnosis explain the mortality rate of 30-50%.