Search results for "Pirati"

Increased airway inflammatory cells in endurance athletes: what do they mean?

2003

Background Inflammatory cells are increased in the airways of end urance athletes, but their role in causing exercise-induced respiratory symptoms and bronchoconstriction, or their possible long-term consequences, are uncertain. Aim To put the results of athlete studies in perspective, by analysing the pathogenesis of airway cell changes and their impact on respiratory function. Results Athletes of different endurance sports at rest showed increased airway neutrophils. Elite swimmers and skiers also showed large increases in airway eosinophils and lymphocytes, possibly related to chronic, exercise-related exposure to irritants or cold and dry air, respectively. Post-exercise studies reporte…

Multifocal adult rhabdomyoma of the head and neck: a case report and literature review.

2008

Adult rhabdomyoma is a rare, usually solitary, primary tumour of striated muscle origin that almost exclusively presents in the head and neck region with predilection for male. We herein present a rare case of a multifocal adult rhabdomyoma in a 72-year-old woman. The lesions were located, the first one in the area of the left aryepiglottic fold and the second one right cervical arising from oesophagus. The diagnosis of the cervical mass was obtained prior to resection through cytological examination (FNAC). We discuss the clinical, cytological and histological findings and we provide a brief review of the literature on this entity.

Personalized intraoperative positive end-expiratory pressure: a further step in protective ventilation

2017

Upscaling leaf gas exchange measurements to the whole grapevine canopy: An update

2009

This review first revisits current knowledge about single-leaf function, viz. photosynthesis, chiefly in relation to environmental factors, that underscores the importance of multiple summer stresses. Emphasis is placed on the response different genotypes show under light and heat stress with or without soil-water shortage. Secondly, it tackles the thorny issue of extrapolating single-leaf readings to the whole-canopy level, with special reference to both methodological and physiological implications. Whole-canopy gas-exchange systems deliver and emphasise the usefulness of such an approach in achieving key research goals. One case in point is quantifying the amount and dynamics of canopy g…

The NreA Protein Functions as a Nitrate Receptor in the Staphylococcal Nitrate Regulation System

2013

Staphylococci are able to use nitrate as an alternative electron acceptor during anaerobic respiration. The regulation of energy metabolism is dependent on the presence of oxygen and nitrate. Under anaerobic conditions, staphylococci employ the nitrate regulatory element (Nre) for transcriptional activation of genes involved in reduction and transport of nitrate and nitrite. Of the three proteins that constitute the Nre system, NreB has been characterized as an oxygen sensor kinase and NreC has been characterized as its cognate response regulator. Here, we present structural and functional data that establish NreA as a new type of nitrate receptor. The structure of NreA with bound nitrate w…

The effect of iron on the biodegradation of natural dissolved organic matter

2016

Iron (Fe) may alter the biodegradation of dissolved organic matter (DOM), by interacting with (DOM), phosphorus (P) and microbes. We isolated DOM and a bacterial community from boreal lake water and examined bacterial growth on DOM in laboratory experiments. Fe was introduced either together with DOM (DOM-Fe) or into bacterial suspension, which led to the formation of insoluble Fe-precipitates on bacterial surfaces (Fe coating). In the latter case, the density of planktonic bacteria was an order of magnitude lower than that in the corresponding treatment without introduced Fe. The association of Fe with DOM decreased bacterial growth, respiration, and growth efficiency compared with DOM alo…

Effects of compost input and tillage intensity on soil microbial biomass and activity under Mediterranean conditions

2010

Organic amendment and tillage reduction are two common practices to contrast soil organic matter decline, thus promoting sustainable cropping and carbon sequestration. In a horticultural land use system under Mediterranean climate, we evaluated the 9-year effects of two compost inputs (15 and 30 t ha−1 y−1, low and high input, respectively) and two tillage intensities (intensive and reduced) on soil macronutrients concentration, microbial biomass and activity. Total organic C, total N and POlsen were smaller in plots amended at low input, whilst intensive tillage decreased them at both compost inputs. These decreases in intensively tilled plots was ascribed to the disruption of soil aggrega…

Oxygen-induced changes in hemoglobin expression in Drosophila

2008

The hemoglobin gene 1 (dmeglob1) of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is expressed in the tracheal system and fat body, and has been implicated in hypoxia resistance. Here we investigate the expression levels of dmeglob1 and lactate dehydrogenase (a positive control) in embryos, third instar larvae and adult flies under various regimes of hypoxia and hyperoxia. As expected, mRNA levels of lactate dehydrogenase increased under hypoxia. We show that expression levels of dmeglob1 are decreased under both short- and long-term hypoxia, compared with the normoxic (21% O2) control. By contrast, a hypoxia/reoxygenation regime applied to third instar larvae elevated the level of dmeglob1 mRNA. A…

Use of gaseous 13NH3 administered to intact leaves of Nicotiana tabacum to study changes in nitrogen utilization during defence induction

2010

Nitrogen-13 (t(1/2) 9.97 m), a radioactive isotope of nitrogen, offers unique opportunities to explore plant nitrogen utilization over short time periods. Here we describe a method for administering (13)N as gaseous (13)NH(3) to intact leaves of Nicotiana tabacum L. (cv Samsun), and measuring the labelled amino acids using radio high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on tissue extract. We used this method to study the effects of defence induction on plant nitrogen utilization by applying treatments of methyl jasmonate (MeJA), a potent defence elicitor. MeJA caused a significant increase relative to controls in key [(13)N]amino acids, including serine, glycine and alanine by 4 h post-…

Effects of Pentachlorophenol and Biotic Interactions on Soil Fauna and Decomposition in Humus Soil

1995

In a laboratory experiment, effects of chemical stress (pentachlorophenol, PCP, at concentrations of 0, 50, and 500 mg/kg) and biotic interactions (nematodes in the presence or absence of collembolas and enchytraeids) on the community structure of soil animals and decomposition processes were studied. PCP was strongly adsorbed to humus that contained 65% organic matter. Numbers of fungal-feeding nematodes decreased significantly at the highest PCP concentration, while no effects were found in bacterial feeders. There were differences in the numbers of nematodes between different animal combinations, but at the highest PCP concentration, collembolas and enchytraeids had no effect on them. Nu…