Familial Mediterranean fever in the pediatric population

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is the most frequent autoinflammatory disorder characterized by short, repeated, and self-limiting crises of fever and serositis. The disease was described as autosomal recessive hereditary transmission secondary to variants of the MEFV (MEditerranean FeVer) gene, even though a variable proportion of patients only present a heterozygous variant. FMF is very common in certain ethnic groups (Turkish, Armenian, Arab, and Jewish), even though it has been described throughout the Mediterranean and elsewhere in the world. The clinical manifestations are variable, with secondary amyloidosis being the most serious complication of the disorder. Treatment and prophylaxis are mainly based on the administration of colchicine, which prevents the crises and avoids complications in most cases. This study reviews the course of seven pediatric patients diagnosed with FMF during the period 2010–2018 at a district hospital. Most of the patients were of Caucasian origin, with onset at an early age in the form of fever as the main symptom, and some patients moreover presented less frequent manifestations (pericardial effusion, sensorineural hearing loss). Two cases presented plasmatic amyloid A protein elevation that subsided with the treatment. All the patients initially received colchicine, and one of them required prescription of anakinra, which was replaced by canakinumab due to a serious adverse reaction. There were no cases of consanguinity, and all the patients were of Mediterranean origin. The subjects showed a favorable course over the years, which was attributed to the early diagnosis and treatment provided.

Hylotelephium spectabile, a New Host for Carnation Tortrix Moth (Cacoecimorpha pronubana) and Molecular Characterization in Greece

Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Hübner) (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) is a highly polyphagous pest of a wide range of crop and ornamental plants. It is of Mediterranean origin and widespread in European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) region. For the first time, infestations of Hylotelephium spectabile (Boreau) Ohba (syn.: Sedum spectabile Boreau) (Saxifragales, Crassulaceae) ornamental plants by C. pronubana larvae, in private gardens in urban area of Drama, Greece, were found. Species identification was conducted based on morphology of female genitalia. In addition, due to reports on occurrence of cryptic C. pronubana species within Europe, DNA barcoding was carried out to determine the molecular status of the pest. This communication reports a new host of C. pronubana and places the Greek pest population along with European species clade.

Icius subinermis, a Mediterranean jumping spider species new to the fauna of Romania (Araneae: Salticidae)

Icius subinermis Simon, 1937 (Araneae: Salticidae), a jumping spider species of Mediterranean origin, is reported for the first time from Romania. Three specimens were collected from canopies of urban ornamental trees on the bank of the river Crișul Repede in Oradea in August 2021. Photographs of the copulatory organ and the habitus of voucher specimens from Romania are provided.

Greek and Roman Pottery in the African Kingdom of Meroe: Ways of Penetration and Influence

The article analyzes the ceramic imports found on the territory of the Meroitic Kingdom – the southern neighbour of Egypt, which existed on the territory of modern Sudan since the second half of the 6th century B.C. until the middle of the 4th century A.D. The imported pottery revealed in the process of archaeological excavations of necropoleis, residential and temple complexes are mainly of Mediterranean origin and are associated with the Hellenistic world that later became a part of the Roman Empire. The finds are mostly rare and are represented by fragments of amphorae from various regions of Italy, Aegean region, Asia Minor, the Levant, northern Africa, as well as the European provinces of the Roman Empire – Baetika and Gaul. The main consumer of foreign goods, in small numbers reaching the middle and upper reaches of the Nile, was probably the Meroitic elite. It is logical to assume that the penetration of Mediterranean ceramics into Meroe was facilitated by the trade ties of its northern neighbour – Egypt:trade with the Mediterranean took place through Egyptian river and caravan routes; although hypothetically, one cannot exclude the possibility of goods entering Meroe bypassing Egypt, through the Red Sea ports. Despite a small share of imported products in the Meroitic Kingdom and regardless of the ways of their movement, they had a significant influence on the local pottery manufacturing; a reflection of this process was the appearance in the African kingdom of Hellenistic forms of vessels (kraters, askoses, lekythoi, clepsydras, etc.) and vase painting in the Greek style. As a result, a very special synthesis of artistic ideas emerged, embodied in Meroitic ceramics. Along with the local Nubian features, Egyptian and Hellenistic themes, techniques and ceramic forms are recognized there, which are characteristic for the pottery of Late and Ptolemaic Egypt, ancient Greece and Rome and allows us to see the Kingdom of Meroe as the extreme southern outpost of the Hellenistic world.

A Research of the Material of the Core of Metal Threads from the Fourteenth-Century Slabbed Graves at the Plateau of Eski-Kermen

In 2020, the excavations of the fourteenth-century burials in slabbed graves 5/2020 and 8/2020 located in front of the main basilica in the central area of the town atop of the plateau of Eski-Kermen discovered metal threads of thin strips of precious metal spirally wound round the core. The present research analyses the material of this core. It is known that most often the strips of precious metal were wound around the core with protein base (silk, wool, or hair) or with cellulose base (linen, cotton, or hemp). The samples of three metal threads were analysed, though no preserved organic core was found in one of the samples. Electron microscopy of the threads recorded their fibrous core, thus showing that the base of metal threads was not hair, skin, or tendons. Further, the core material was investigated by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. The research detected trace amounts of two amino-acids, glycine and alanine, which appeared in silk fibroin only. The results of this study suggest that the core of metal threads was made of silk cloth. This indicates an imported, probably Mediterranean origin of the metal threads found in the burials at Eski-Kermen plateau. The artefacts made of such threads were possibly brought to the Crimea by Genoese merchants. It is known that in the fourteenth century various silk cloths were a priority commodity in the trade carried on by the Italians in Caffa and the towns of Genoese Gazaria.

Waterlogging tolerance of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) at germination related to country of origin

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) has a Mediterranean origin and was spread to Western Europe, Africa and South Asia. Over time, this grain legume crop has become important in South Asia, where it is often affected by waterlogging at germination. Therefore, varieties with waterlogging tolerance of seeds at germination are needed. This study evaluated waterlogging tolerance in a grass pea diversity panel. First, morpho-agronomic traits of 53 grass pea genotypes from 7 diverse countries (Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Greece and Pakistan) were measured in a glasshouse. Seeds of the collection were then sown into waterlogged soil for 6 days and is subsequently drained for 8 days. Finally, representative genotypes from each country of origin of the three survival patterns (described below) were then tested to identify the effect of seed priming on germination and seedling growth in waterlogged soil. Canonical analysis of six traits (seed weight, pod length, pod width, flowering time, time to maturity and seedling survival) showed that genotypes from Bangladesh and Ethiopia were similar. There was a significant variation amongst genotypes in waterlogging tolerance. Genotypes from Bangladesh and Ethiopia showed the highest percent seedling survival (54% and 47%), with an ability to germinate under waterlogging and then maintain growth from the first day of draining to the final sampling (Pattern 1). In contrast, genotypes from other origins either germinated during waterlogging, but did not survive during drainage (Pattern 2) or failed to germinate and had low seedling survival during waterlogging and drainage (Pattern 3). Priming seeds reduced seedling survival in grass pea. Despite Mediterranean origin, specific ecotypes of grass pea with greater waterlogging tolerance under warm wet conditions have been favoured in Bangladesh and Ethiopia where adaptation to extreme precipitation events at germination and seedling survival upon soil drainage is critical for successful crops.

Alien species of Mediterranean origin in the Baltic Sea Region: current state and risk assessment

Due to globalization and climate warming, the introduction and establishment of alien species has increased in recent years. The Mediterranean Sea Region (MSR) has not been explored as a common donor of alien species to the Baltic Sea Region (BSR); however, in the context of global warming, the BSR could be more suitable for alien species from the MSR. We evaluated the alien species of Mediterranean origin present in the BSR, with emphasis on aggressive, aquatic and terrestrial species spread in at least two countries of the BSR. Introduction pathways and the year of first record in the BSR were assessed for Mediterranean species. Using an analytical hierarchy process, we also performed a risk assessment for aggressive Mediterranean species in the BSR. In total, 6145 alien species were recorded in the BSR, but only 3033 species were verified. For 292 of these species, there is evidence of impact in the BSR, 10 of these (3.4%) are native to the MSR (six animals (Alphitophagus bifasciatus, Chrysolina americana, Tenebrio molitor, Limax maximus, Oxychilus draparnaudi, and Limacus flavus) and four plants (Linaria repens, Veronica filiformis, Prunus cerasifera, and Viola odorata)). Based on the risk assessment, eight of them represent moderate risk (L. flavus, L. maximus, O. draparnaudi, T. molitor, L. repens, V. filiformis, V. odorata, and P. cerasifera). In total, 715 freshwater and terrestrial species are spread in at least two countries of the BSR: 131 of them (18.3%) are of Mediterranean origin, all of them are terrestrial species (123 plants and eight animals). In general, Mediterranean plants were recorded earlier than animals in the BSR, as most of the plants were recorded in the years 1651–1750 and 1801–1900. Seven of the eight Mediterranean animals were introduced as contaminants of food, plants, or nursery material. Most of the Mediterranean plants in the BSR escaped from agriculture or horticulture (46.1%) or were transported as contaminants on animals or as seed contaminants (33.6%). This study is a first evaluation of the flux of species from the MSR to the BSR and will help the stakeholders to make decisions to prevent and control alien species in the BSR.

Metabolic Profiling Provides Unique Insights to Accumulation and Biosynthesis of Key Secondary Metabolites in Annual Pasture Legumes of Mediterranean Origin

Annual legumes from the Mediterranean region are receiving attention in Australia as alternatives to traditional pasture species. The current study employed novel metabolic profiling approaches to quantify key secondary metabolites including phytoestrogens to better understand their biosynthetic regulation in a range of field-grown annual pasture legumes. In addition, total polyphenol and proanthocyanidins were quantified using Folin–Ciocalteu and vanillin assays, respectively. Metabolic profiling coupled with biochemical assay results demonstrated marked differences in the abundance of coumestans, flavonoids, polyphenols, and proanthocyanidins in annual pasture legume species. Genetically related pasture legumes segregated similarly from a chemotaxonomic perspective. A strong and positive association was observed between the concentration of phytoestrogens and upregulation of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway in annual pasture legumes. Our findings suggest that evolutionary differences in metabolic dynamics and biosynthetic regulation of secondary metabolites have logically occurred over time in various species of annual pasture legumes resulting in enhanced plant defense.