Antifungal activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Boerhavia diffusa</Emphasis> L. extract against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora</Emphasis> spp. in tomato and pepper

A new longidorid nematode, Longidorus persicus n. sp., is described and illustrated from a population extracted from soil associated with wild rose (Rosa sp.) naturally growing in the mountains close to the village of Cheshmeh-e-Nezamei near the city of Gilan-e-Gharb, Kermanshah province, western Iran. The new needle nematode is characterised by a large body size (6550–7763 μm), an anteriorly flattened lip region, ca 13 μm wide, distinctly set off from body contour by a depression, amphidial fovea large, pocket shaped, slightly asymmetrically bilobed, a moderately long and flexible odontostyle ca 86 μm long, stylet guiding ring located at ca 25 μm from anterior end, posterior arrangement of the pharyngeal gland nuclei, vulva almost equatorial (49–54 %), tail short, about 3/4 of its width, dorsally convex-conoid, with rounded terminus, with a c’ ratio ca 1.3, bearing three pairs of caudal pores and male rare (ratio 1:10 females) with spicules ca 46 μm long. Integrative diagnosis was completed with molecular data obtained using D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rDNA, ITS1-rDNA, and partial 18S-rDNA. The phylogenetic relationships of this species with other Longidorus spp. using D2-D3 expansion segments and partial 18S-rDNA indicated that L. persicus n. sp. clustered together with L. perangustus and L. euonymus: both of them sharing an anteriorly flattened lip region and distinctly set off from body contour by a depression.     

Wide Range Applications of Spirulina: From Earth to Space Missions

Spirulina is the most studied cyanobacterium species for both pharmacological applications and the food industry. The aim of the present review is to summarize the potential benefits of the use of Spirulina for improving healthcare both in space and on Earth. Regarding the first field of application, Spirulina could represent a new technology for the sustainment of long-duration manned missions to planets beyond the Lower Earth Orbit (e.g., Mars); furthermore, it could help astronauts stay healthy while exposed to a variety of stress factors that can have negative consequences even after years. As far as the second field of application, Spirulina could have an active role in various aspects of medicine, such as metabolism, oncology, ophthalmology, central and peripheral nervous systems, and nephrology. The recent findings of the capacity of Spirulina to improve stem cells mobility and to increase immune response have opened new intriguing scenarios in oncological and infectious diseases, respectively.     

Investigation of multiple Felis catus papillomavirus types (-1/-2/-3/-4/-5/-6) DNAs in feline oral squamous cell carcinoma: a multicentric study

Recent evidence suggests a possible association of Felis catus papillomavirus type 2 (FcaPV-2) DNA with feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC). In this study, type-specific PCR targeting two genes (L1/E6 or E1/E6) of FcaPV-1/-2/-3/-4/-5/-6 was performed to detect viral DNA in a large amount of FOSCC samples collected in Italy and Austria. FcaPV-1/-2/-3/-4/-5 were detected in 7/113 (6.2%), 7/93 (7.5%), 6/113 (5.3%), 1/113 (0.9%) and 2/113 (1.8%) specimens, respectively, with different prevalences in Italian vs. Austrian samples, whilst FcaPV-6 went undetected. Our results confirms that FcaPV-2 is the most prevalent in FOSCC, followed by FcaPV-1/-3 and suggest that FcaPVs have variable circulation rates in European countries.     

Standardization of canine meningioma grading: Validation of new guidelines for reproducible histopathologic criteria

Canine meningiomas are currently graded using the human grading system. Recently published guidelines have adapted the human grading system for use in dogs. The goal of this study was to validate the new guidelines for canine meningiomas. To evaluate the inter-observer agreement, 5 veterinary surgical pathologists graded 158 canine meningiomas following the human grading system alone or with the new guidelines. The inter-observer agreement for histologic grade and each of the grading criteria (mitotic grade, invasion, spontaneous necrosis, macronucleoli, small cells, hypercellularity, pattern loss and anaplasia) was evaluated using the Fleiss kappa index. The diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) was assessed by comparing the diagnoses obtained with the 2 grading systems with a consensus grade (considered the reference classification). The consensus histologic grade was obtained by agreement between 4 experienced veterinary neuropathologists following the guidelines. Compared with the human grading alone, the canine-specific guidelines increased the inter-observer agreement for: histologic grade (κ = 0.52); invasion (κ = 0.67); necrosis (κ = 0.62); small cells (κ = 0.36); pattern loss (κ = 0.49) and anaplasia (κ = 0.55). Mitotic grade agreement remained substantial (κ = 0.63). The guidelines improved the sensitivity in identifying grade 1 (95.6%) and the specificity in identifying grade 2 (96.2%) meningiomas. In conclusion, the new grading guidelines for canine meningiomas are associated with an overall improvement in the inter-observer agreement and higher diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing grade 1 and grade 2 meningiomas.