Terrain, oceanographic, and biological factors underlying the development of Mediterranean coastal animal forests.

Marine Animal Forests (MAFs) form three-dimensional seascapes and provide substrate and shelter for a variety of species. We investigated the fine-scale distribution pattern of three habitat-forming species of the coastal Mediterranean MAFs: Eunicella cavolini, E. singularis and Paramuricea clavata, and assessed the influence of terrain, oceanographic, and biological factors on their distribution and the formation of MAFs in the central-northern Tyrrhenian Sea.

Transplantation on a Posidonia oceanica meadow to facilitate its recovery after the Concordia shipwrecking.

Ecological restoration is an important tool to reverse habitat loss and recover ecosystem services. Here, for two years, we examine the dynamic of Posidonia oceanica following the restoration of a 1149 m meadow damaged by the Concordia shipwreck. To evaluate the suitability of a recently employed seagrass restoration protocol, we assessed the patches' survival and development by high-spatial resolution photomosaics over the whole transplanted surface.

Bray-Call Sequences in the Mediterranean Common Bottlenose Dolphin () Acoustic Repertoire.

Acoustic sequences are commonly observed in many animal taxa. The vast vocal repertoire of common bottlenose dolphins () also includes sequences of multi-unit rhythmic signals called bray-call which are still poorly documented, both functionally and geographically. This study aimed to (1) describe, classify, and characterize series of bray-call recorded in two sites of the Mediterranean basin (Rome-Tyrrhenian Sea and Mazara del Vallo-Strait of Sicily) and (2) investigate for the existence of possible geographic differences.

High spatial resolution underwater data for mapping seagrass transplantation: A powerful tool for visualization and analysis.

These datasets derived from our mapping protocol are presented as a research article in the Journal of Environmental Management [1]. In particular, by using a Structure from Motion photogrammetric workflow we produced high spatial resolution 2D raster maps and 3D outputs such as dense points clouds and textured meshes of an underwater seagrass restoration site. In this area transplanted fragments of Posidonia oceanica were planted to restore this impacted site after the Costa Concordia shipwrecking which occurred on 13 January 2012 along the NE coast of Giglio Island (Tuscany, Italy).

Increasing nutrient inputs over the last 500 years in an Italian low-impacted seagrass meadow.

Posidonia oceanica is a seagrass endemic to the Mediterranean and it has been widely used as a bioindicator. We studied the layers of a 500-year-old matte using a multiproxy approach (δC, δN, C and C and N concentrations in seagrass debris) in order to evaluate the potential of P. oceanica as a long-term environmental indicator of N pollution and CO emissions.

Seagrass restoration monitoring and shallow-water benthic habitat mapping through a photogrammetry-based protocol.

Seagrasses rank among the most productive yet highly threatened ecosystems on Earth. Loss of seagrass habitat because of anthropogenic disturbances and evidence of their limited resilience have provided the impetus for investigating and monitoring habitat restoration through transplantation programmes. Although Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry is becoming a more and more relevant technique for mapping underwater environments, no standardised methods currently exist to provide 3-dimensional high spatial resolution and accuracy cartographic products for monitoring seagrass transplantation areas.

Capitoline Dolphins: Residency Patterns and Abundance Estimate of at the Tiber River Estuary (Mediterranean Sea).

Periodic assessments of population status and trends to detect natural influences and human effects on coastal dolphin are often limited by lack of baseline information. Here, we investigated for the first time the site-fidelity patterns and estimated the population size of bottlenose dolphins () at the Tiber River estuary (central Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian Sea, Rome, Italy) between 2017 and 2020. We used photo-identification data and site-fidelity metrics to study the tendency of dolphins to remain in, or return to, the study area, and capture-recapture models to estimate the population abundance.

The power of informal cancer caregivers' writings: results from a thematic and narrative analysis.

Background: Cancer is a disease that disrupts not only the patient's life, but that of the entire family as well, from a care, organizational, and emotional perspective. Patients share their experience of illness frequently with their informal caregiver (IC), a partner, son/daughter, friend, volunteer, or any other person in the family or social network who offers to support them during their clinical journey. The purpose of this study was to investigate ICs' still unknown cancer experiences through the stories of IC participants in a Literary Artistic Competition the Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCSS organized, and understand the themes that emerged from their texts and hence, the power of expressive writing.

Reteporella spp. success in the re-colonization of bare coralligenous reefs impacted by Costa Concordia shipwreck: The pioneer species you did not expect.

We report here for the first time the effectiveness of Reteporella bryozoan genus in the early stage of coralligenous reefs recolonization through the analysis of the settlement and the population size structure over a two-years period at two impacted and two control sites. Results highlighted how Reteporella spp. colonies strongly recolonized, from 2017 to 2019, the bare coralligenous reefs subjected to the Costa Concordia shipwreck and its related anthropogenic disturbances, notably increasing both their density and percentage coverage.

Spatial variability and influence of biological parameters on microplastic ingestion by Boops boops (L.) along the Italian coasts (Western Mediterranean Sea).

Recently, many studies focus on the ingestion of microplastics by marine biota. Fish exploit almost every kind of marine environment, occupy many ecological niches and are an important food source for human populations worldwide. For these reasons, they seem to represent very appropriate biological indicators of microplastic ingestion.

Impact of the Costa Concordia shipwreck on a Posidonia oceanica meadow: a multi-scale assessment from a population to a landscape level.

The Costa Concordia shipwreck permitted to assess how multiple disturbances affected marine biota at different spatial and temporal scales, evaluating the effects of mechanical and physical disturbances on Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, an endemic seagrass species of the Mediterranean Sea. To assess the impacts of the shipwreck and its salvaging from 2012 to 2017 at a population and a landscape level, a diversified approach was applied based on the application of a geographical information system coupled with seascape metrics and structural descriptors.

Are developmental shifts the main driver of phenotypic evolution in Diplodus spp. (Perciformes: Sparidae)?

Background: Sparid fishes of the genus Diplodus show a complex life history. Juveniles have adaptations well suited to life in the water column. When fishes recruit into the adult population, individuals develop a radically differentiated shape that reflects their adaptation to the new benthic environment typical of the adult.

Feeding ecology of some fish species occurring in artisanal fishery of Socotra Island (Yemen).

The demersal species Lethrinus borbonicus, Lethrinus mahsena, Lethrinus microdon, Lethrinus nebulosus, Lutjanus bohar, Lutjanus gibbus, Lutjanus kasmira, Epinephelus fasciatus, Epinephelus stoliczkae, Carangoides gymnostethus and Euthynnus affinis are important coastal fishes species of the northern coast of Socotra (Yemen), exploited by local fishery. The biology and feeding ecology of these species are poorly known in the area. A total of 1239 specimens were sampled from the main fishing landing site of the island (Hadibo).

Seagrass meadows (Posidonia oceanica) distribution and trajectories of change.

Posidonia oceanica meadows are declining at alarming rates due to climate change and human activities. Although P. oceanica is considered the most important and well-studied seagrass species of the Mediterranean Sea, to date there has been a limited effort to combine all the spatial information available and provide a complete distribution of meadows across the basin.

Acute blood leukocyte reduction after liver reperfusion: a marker of ischemic injury.

Introduction: Reperfusion injury occurs after ischemic storage of the liver. The release of free radicals from endothelial cells leads to increased adherence of polymorphonuclear neutrophils to endothelium and further release of proteases and free radicals that alter the microcirculation and produce graft dysfunction. Acute blood leukocyte reduction after reperfusion may be an expression of this sequestration and activation of neutrophils within hepatic sinusoids.

Neurological complications of liver cirrhosis and orthotopic liver transplant.

Neurological complications are common in cirrhotic patients with end-stage liver failure. They comprise a wide array of etiologies, which may originate before, during, or after liver transplantation. The objective of this study was to describe the nature of the main neurological complications in patients with end-stage liver failure.

Cerebral hemodynamic and metabolic changes in patients with fulminant hepatic failure during liver transplantation.

Background: Cerebral autoregulation and metabolism may be seriously compromised in patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). The mechanism responsible for the alteration in cerebral blood flow (CBF) has not been yet clearly defined; however, it is known that it does correlate with liver function. Orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) rapidly restores normal liver function, but little is known about the restoration of cerebral metabolism and hemodynamics.

Modifications of cerebral vascular resistance and autoregulation after graft reperfusion during human orthotopic liver transplantation.

We have studied cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and cerebral autoregulation (CA) in 23 orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) patients using transcranial doppler. CBFV was continuously recorded using a fixed (helmet) 2-Mz probe through the trans-temporal window. CA changes were studied using a linear regression analysis of percentile changes in CBFV and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) after phenylephrine infusion compared with baseline.

Portal vein pressure and graft oxygen consumption monitoring during liver transplantation.

Unlabelled: Abnormal splanchnic circulation (ASC) is often detected too late, when hepatic circulation is already irreversibly compromised. If we could detect surgical or metabolic problems early after graft reperfusion, we might be able to correct them immediately before the damage becomes irreversible. The aim of this study was to determine if ASC can be predicted early after liver transplantation (LT) using portal vein pressure measurements and graft oxygen consumption monitoring.

Type-2 hepatorenal syndrome and refractory ascites: role of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt in eighteen patients with advanced cirrhosis awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation.

Background/aims: TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt) has been used increasingly in the management of refractory variceal bleeding. Its role in the management of refractory ascites and hepatorenal syndrome still awaits further prospective studies. Type-2 hepatorenal syndrome is a moderate steady renal impairment.

Up-regulation of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor system in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Increased number of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) have been found in some tumors outside the liver. The present study was to verify whether the PBR system is altered in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The levels of endogenous benzodiazepine-like compounds (BZDs), measured by radioreceptor binding technique after HPLC purification and the endogenous ligand for PBRs, termed diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI), measured by radioimmunoassay utilizing a specific antibody for human DBI, were studied in the blood of 15 normal subjects, 12 liver cirrhosis and 10 patients with HCC.

[The recurrence of hepatitic C in orthotopic liver transplantation].

Background: This study is a review of hepatitis C recurrence in patients undergoing an orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT); to verify how many patients HCV-positive before OLT confirm a persistent viremia after OLT and how many with viremia show hepatitis histological evidence.

Methods: Thirty consecutive patients, 24 males, median age 52.5 underwent OLT for posthepatitic C cirrhosis since January 1993 in the "Transplantation Center" of Genoa.