ALLERGENS IN THE PARK AND GARDEN FLORA OF SICILY

The ornamental flora of parks and gardens, as we know, generally includes high proportions of exotics. In Italy it arose from Renaissance on and increasingly enriched up to include a large proportion of exotics native to countries under Mediterranean and temperate climates. Similarly the garden flora of Sicily has a large number of mostly Mediterranean and subtropical exotics. Even if very similar on the whole, these floras differ in some floristic, biological and ecological features. Indeed, several succulent families and genera that are rare or missing in Italy are frequent in Sicily, but plants from temperate regions are almost absent in the island. As regards the allergenic patterns ref…

Geophytes and evolution in the Sicilian Archipelago

Geophytes occurring in the Sicilian archipelago are examined with respect to their distribution and evolution, and also taking into account correlations with the inner parts of this territory and other regions in the central Mediterranean.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Abstract Background Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18–49, 50–69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results NNVs were more favourable in su…

Le piante allergeniche dei Parchi e Giardini Siciliani

La ricerca effettuata presenta la consistenza della componente vegetale legnosa dei giardini e parchi siciliani implicato nelle pollinosi. Quantitativamente, tale patrimonio non si discosta molto da quello dell’Italia peninsulare. Dal punto di vista qualitativo, invece, presenta significative caratteristiche distintive, costituite principalmente da piante subtropicali, esotiche, assenti o rare nel resto d’Italia, ma più o meno frequenti anche in altre aree del Mediterraneo centrale quali l’intero arcipelago siciliano, include Malta, la costa nordafricana, ecc. In particolare rispetto alla sola frazione legnosa (l'intera flora dei giardini siciliani comprende circa 740 specifici taxa), tale …

Plant landscape of the archaeological site of Selinunte and its restoration: tribute to scholars and professionals who worked on it