0000000000022268
AUTHOR
S. Ramirez
showing 10 related works from this author
Aroma Profiling of Leaf, Flower, Peel and In Vitro Embryo Tissues of “Ciaculli Late” Mandarin
2003
Abstract Volatile compounds released from leaf, flower and peel as well as from somatic (nucellar) embryo tissues of “Tardivo di Ciaculli” or “Ciaculli late” mandarin have been collected/ concentrated by headspace solid phase microextraction, HS-SPME, and analyzed by GC-MS. The tehnique allowed the rapid comparison of the volatiles from the various sources; in particular, 19 compounds were identified for the embryos, 16 for leaf and flower and 13 for peel. Limonene was the most abundant volatile component of the embryo and peel while γ-terpinene was the major compound among volatiles from leaf and flower. Relatively high amounts of methyl N-methyl anthranilate and β-caryophyllene were also …
Emerging GII.4 norovirus variants affect children with diarrhea in Palermo, Italy in 2006
2008
Although the genetic/antigenic heterogeneity of human noroviruses (NoVs) is impressive, a few genogroup II strains of genotype 4 (GII.4) are dominant worldwide. GII.4 NoVs evolve rapidly and in the last 15 years six epidemic variants have been identified. In 2005-2006, surveillance of sporadic viral gastroenteritis in children in Palermo, Italy, resulted in the detection of NoV strains in 20.9% of the patients admitted to hospital. By restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequence analysis of region A in the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp) gene, 59 NoV strains were successfully characterized. Eighty-one percent of the strains were characterized as GII.4, 14% as GIIb/Hilver…
Canine-Origin G3P[3] Rotavirus Strain in Child with Acute Gastroenteritis
2007
Infection by an animal-like strain of rotavirus (PA260/97) was diagnosed in a child with gastroenteritis in Palermo, Italy, in 1997. Sequence analysis of VP7, VP4, VP6, and NSP4 genes showed resemblance to a G3P[3] canine strain identified in Italy in 1996. Dogs are a potential source of human viral pathogens.
Detection of the norovirus variants GGII.4 hunter and GGIIb/hilversum in Italian children with gastroenteritis.
2006
Noroviruses (NoVs) are important enteric pathogens of humans. Although they exhibit an impressive genetic diversity, few NoV strains appear to predominate worldwide. Limited epidemiological data are available on NoV gastroenteritis in Italy. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of human NoV in Italian children with gastroenteritis by using a reverse-transcription nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay specific for the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) on faecal samples collected throughout the 2004 surveillance activity in Palermo, Italy. NoVs were detected in 47% of the stool samples obtained from children <5 years age, admitted to hospital with acute non-bacterial gastroen…
Metal ion adsorption by phomopsis sp. Biomaterial in laboratory experiments and real Wastewater Treatments
2005
An insoluble material of polysaccharidic nature has been obtained by thermal alkali treatment of the filamentous fungus Phomopsis sp. FT-IR spectrum of the resulting material as well as its nitrogen content suggest that chitosan and glucans are the main components of the biomaterial. Information on Lewis base sites has also been obtained and used as a guideline in the evaluation of the complexing ability against a number of metal ions in aqueous media at pH in the range 4--6. Results indicate that after 24h contact time, up to 870 micromol/g of lead, 390 micromol/g of copper, 230 micromol/g of cadmium, 150 micromol/g of zinc and 110 micromol/g of nickel ions are adsorbed into the material. …
Rare AU-1-like G3P[9] human rotaviruses with a Kun-like NSP4 gene in children with diarrhea in Italy
2007
ABSTRACT Three G3P[9] rotaviruses, detected in children hospitalized with gastroenteritis in Palermo, Italy, were found to be genetically related to strains of either human or feline origin in the VP7, VP4, and VP6 genes. In contrast, in the NSP4 gene the viruses resembled G2P[4] human strains, suggesting a reassortment between AU-1-like and Kun-like strains.
Heterogeneity and temporal dynamics of evolution of G1 human rotaviruses in a settled population.
2006
ABSTRACT A rotavirus sample collection from 19 consecutive years was used to investigate the heterogeneity and the dynamics of evolution of G1 rotavirus strains in a geographically defined population. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP7 gene sequences of G1P[8] human rotavirus strains showed the circulation of a heterogeneous population comprising three lineages and seven sublineages. Increases in the circulation of G1 rotaviruses were apparently associated with the introduction of novel G1 strains that exhibited multiple amino acid changes in antigenic regions involved in rotavirus neutralization compared to the strains circulating in the previous years. The emergence and/or introduction of G…
Diversity of human rotaviruses detected in Sicily, Italy, over a 5-years period (2001-2005).
2007
It is well known that the death of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) is the pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common and disabling condition in the expanding elderly population. Nevertheless, the intracellular cascade of events leading to dopamine cell death is still unknown and, consequently, treatment is largely symptomatic rather than preventive. Moreover, the mechanisms whereby nigral dopaminergic neurons may degenerate still remain controversial. Hitherto, several data have shown that the earlier cellular disturbances occurring in dopaminergic neurons include oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, inflammation, mitochondrial dy…
Genotyping of GII.4 and GIIb norovirus RT-PCR amplicons by RFLP analysis
2007
GII.4 and GIIb/Hilversum norovirus (NoV) strains appear to have a prominent epidemiological role in outbreaks or sporadic cases of human gastroenteritis. Sequence analysis, although laborious, is the reference method used for characterization of noroviruses. In this study a screening test is proposed to characterize GIIb and GII.4 NoVs based on restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of amplicons obtained from the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) region. Virtual analysis of 793 RdRp sequences of GGI and GGII NoVs, retrieved from GenBank, and representative of global geographical origins on a long-time period, permitted the selection of four restriction enzymes, XmnI, Ahd…
Norovirus and gastroenteritis in hospitalized children, Italy
2007
Noroviruses were detected in 48.4% of 192 children (<3 years of age) hospitalized for gastroenteritis in Palermo, Italy, during 2004; predominant genotypes were GGIIb/Hilversum and GGII.4 Hunter. Of children with viral enteritis, 19.6% had a mixed norovirus-rotavirus infection. The severity of infection was lower for norovirus than for rotavirus but increased in co-infection.