Karyotype's Rearrangement in Some Hybrids of the Orchidinae Subtribe.

Based on our karyological findings in the Rich., L., and L.

The seasonal response of metabolic rate to projected climate change scenarios in aquatic amphipods.

The responses of organisms to climate change are mediated primarily by its impact on their metabolic rates, which, in turn, drive various biological and ecological processes. Although there have been numerous seminal studies on the sensitivity of metabolic rate to temperature, little is empirically known about how this rate responds to seasonal temperature ranges and beyond under conservative IPCC climate change scenarios. Here, we measured the SMR of the aquatic amphipod, Gammarus insensibilis, which served as our subject species, with body masses ranging from 0.

Ultrastructural Characterization of PBMCs and Extracellular Vesicles in Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study.

Growing evidence identifies extracellular vesicles (EVs) as important cell-to-cell signal transducers in autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS). If the etiology of MS still remains unknown, its molecular physiology has been well studied, indicating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as the main pathologically relevant contributors to the disease and to neuroinflammation. Recently, several studies have suggested the involvement of EVs as key mediators of neuroimmune crosstalk in central nervous system (CNS) autoimmunity.

New Cytogenetic Data for the Neottieae Tribe (Orchidaceae) in the Mediterranean Region.

This work presents a summary of cytogenetic data, including new information, on several species within the tribe Neottieae, with an update of the karyotype for 23 species belonging to the genera , , , and (including ). Each of these four genera also presents distinctive chromosomal features, such as bimodal karyotypes. Our research includes insights into the distribution of constitutive heterochromatin, measured using C-banding and, in some cases, specific fluorochromes for the detection of A-T- and G-C-rich DNA.

Capture and discard practises associated with an ornamental fishery affect the metabolic rate and aerobic capacity of three-striped dwarf cichlids .

Fishing causes direct removal of individuals from wild populations but can also cause a physiological disturbance in fish that are released or discarded after capture. While sublethal physiological effects of fish capture have been well studied in commercial and recreational fisheries, this issue has been overlooked for the ornamental fish trade, where it is common to capture fish from the wild and discard non-target species. We examined metabolic responses to capture and discard procedures in the three-striped dwarf cichlid , a popular Amazonian aquarium species that nonetheless may be discarded when not a target species.

Comparative Cytogenetic of the 36-Chromosomes Genera of Subtribe (Orchidaceae) in the Mediterranean Region: A Summary and New Data.

This article provides a summary of the current knowledge on the cytogenetics of four genera, which are all composed of 36 chromosomes, within the Orchidinae subtribe (Orchidaceae). Previous classical studies have revealed differences in karyomorphology among these genera, indicating genomic diversity. The current study includes an analysis of the current knowledge with an update of the karyotype of 47 species with 36 chromosomes from the genera , , , and The study discusses comparisons of karyotypes among these genera that used traditional techniques as well as karyotype asymmetry relationships with various asymmetry indices.

Solar Salterns and Pollution: Valorization of Some Endemic Species as Sentinels in Ecotoxicology.

Solar salterns and salt marshes are unique ecosystems with special physicochemical features and characteristic biota. Currently, there are very few studies focused on the impacts of pollution on these economic and ecological systems. Unfortunately, diversified pollution (metals, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, etc.

The size dependency of foraging behaviour: an empirical test performed on aquatic amphipods.

The behavioural choices made by foragers regarding the use of resource patches have a direct influence on the energy balance of the individual. Given that several individual traits linked to the acquisition of spatially distributed resources increase with body size (e.g.

IFP35 Is a Relevant Factor in Innate Immunity, Multiple Sclerosis, and Other Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: A Review.

Discovered in 1993 by Bange et al., the 35-kDa interferon-induced protein (IFP35) is a highly conserved cytosolic interferon-induced leucine zipper protein with a 17q12-21 coding gene and unknown function. Belonging to interferon stimulated genes (ISG), the IFP35 reflects the type I interferon (IFN) activity induced through the JAK-STAT phosphorylation, and it can homodimerize with N-myc-interactor (NMI) and basic leucine zipper transcription factor (BATF), resulting in nuclear translocation and a functional expression.

A new approach to assessing the space use behavior of macroinvertebrates by automated video tracking.

Individual space and resource use are central issues in ecology and conservation. Recent technological advances such as automated tracking techniques are boosting ecological research in this field. However, the development of a robust method to track space and resource use is still challenging for at least one important ecosystem component: motile aquatic macroinvertebrates.

The Age-Related Efficacy of Dimethyl Fumarate and Natalizumab in the Real-World Management of Multiple Sclerosis.

We investigated the comparative age-related efficacy of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and natalizumab (NTZ) in clinical practice on multiple sclerosis (MS). Research in this area is lacking in the previous literature. In a three-year retrospective and clinical-paraclinical study, we compared 173 DMF patients and 94 NTZ patients with a similar average age (40 years) and disease duration (DD) (10 years).

IFI35 as a biomolecular marker of neuroinflammation and treatment response in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with unpredictable clinical outcome. As such, there is an urgent need to identify biomarkers that can predict the treatment response. Therefore, in an open-label, clinical, paraclinical and molecular prospective study, we assessed 50 interferon (IFN) treated MS patients for Rio Score (RS)/Modified Rio Score (MRS) and densitometric expression of the interferon-induced protein 35 (IFI35), a signal-protein with potential to be clinically relevant in the management of the disease.

Burden and Prevention of HPV. Knowledge, Practices and Attitude Assessment Among Pre-Adolescents and their Parents in Italy.

Despite infections due to HPV nowadays represent the most common sexually transmitted diseases worldwide with recognized effective and safe preventive strategies, knowledge, attitudes; however, awareness on HPV is considerably low. The present study has two main objectives: 1. To conduct a literature review to analyze the evolution of preventive tools, the complexity of the vaccine choice process, and the challenges posed by HPV vaccine hesitancy and refusal among pre-adolescents and their parents; 2.

Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type-3 and multiple sclerosis: lessons from comorbidity.

The comorbidity between multiple sclerosis (MS) and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type-3 (PFIC3) has never been described yet. ABCB4 gene encodes the multidrug resistant protein 3 (MDR3) and its mutations induce PFIC3 as well as intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and drug-induced liver injury (DILI). We describe the case of a 32-year-old female with MS and PFIC3 who was effectively treated with natalizumab and ursodeoxycholic acid (UCDA), in contrast to glatiramer acetate, dimethylfumarate, and IFNb1a associated with DILI.

Size dependency of patch departure behavior: evidence from granivorous rodents.

Individual size is a major determinant of mobile organisms' ecology and behavior. This study aims to explore whether allometric scaling principles can provide an underlying framework for general patterns of resource patch use. To this end, we used giving-up densities (GUDs), that is, the amount of resources remaining in a patch after a forager has quit feeding, as a comparative measure of the amount of resources exploited by a forager of any given size.

A process based model of cohesive sediment resuspension under bioturbators' influence.

Macrozoobenthos may affect sediment stability and erodibility via their bioturbating activities, thereby impacting both the short- and long-term development of coastal morphology. Process-based models accounting for the effect of bioturbation are needed for the modelling of erosion dynamics. With this work, we explore whether the fundamental allometric principles of metabolic activity scaling with individual and population size may provide a framework to derive general patterns of bioturbation effect on cohesive sediment resuspension.

Marine litter in stomach content of small pelagic fishes from the Adriatic Sea: sardines (Sardina pilchardus) and anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus).

Marine litter impacts oceans and affects marine organisms, representing a potential threat for natural stocks of pelagic fish species located at the first levels of the marine food webs. In 2013-2014, on a seasonal basis, marine litter and microplastics in stomach contents from Sardinia pilchardus and Engraulis encrasicolus were evaluated. Selected species are plankitivores of great ecological and commercial importance in the Adriatic Sea.

Revisiting GUD: An empirical test of the size-dependency of patch departure behaviour.

Behaviour related to patch resource exploitation is a major determinant of individual fitness. Assuming the size-dependency of patch departure behaviour, model-based approaches have shown size-mediated coexistence in systems of competing species. However, experimental evidence for the influence of body size on patch use behaviour is scarce.

The Clinical Use of Stem Cell Research in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Critical Analysis of Current Policies.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disorder affecting more than 200 million people around the world, resulting in three million deaths per year. COPD is characterized by the loss of lung tissue and airway remodelling, with chronic inflammation of the airways and progressive destruction of lung parenchyma. The use of stem cells may lead to regenerative processes that address biological damage.

Atherosclerosis is associated with a higher risk of hepatic steatosis in HIV-infected patients.

Introduction: Cardiovascular Diseases (CD) have emerged as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV population. Some studies have reported higher carotid Intima Media Thickness (c-IMT), a measure of subclinical atherosclerosis (AT), in this cohort of patients.

Methods: Here, we evaluate the role of Hepatic Steatosis (HS) as likely marker for AT in 128 HIV-infected patients without hepatitis C infection.

Metastases of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Misdiagnosed as Isolated Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

At present, cardiac metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma is rarely mentioned in the literature. We report a hepatocellular carcinoma patient with cardiac metastasis misdiagnosed as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2011. Two years later, on presentation of syncope, an abnormal ventricular septal size was recorded by ultrasound scan, and was subsequently shown by magnetic resonance imaging to be a tumour lesion.

Transbulbar B-Mode Sonography in Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical and Biological Relevance.

Optic nerve sheath diameter quantification by transbulbar B-mode sonography is a recently validated technique, but its clinical relevance in relapse-free multiple sclerosis patients remains unexplored. In an open-label, comparative, cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess possible differences between patients and healthy controls in terms of optic nerve sheath diameter and its correlation with clinical/paraclinical parameters in this disease. Sixty unselected relapse-free patients and 35 matched healthy controls underwent transbulbar B-mode sonography.

Dramatic recovery of steroid-refractory relapsed multiple sclerosis following Fingolimod discontinuation using selective immune adsorption.

Background: Selective immune adsorption (SIA) is an emerging method for treating immune-mediated neurological diseases, given its superior safety profile compared to plasma exchange (PEX). However, the available literature concerning Multiple Sclerosis includes no cases of SIA applied to steroid-refractory rebound after Fingolimod discontinuation.

Case Presentation: Here we report the case of a 32-year-old woman suffering from multiple sclerosis treated with Fingolimod and admitted to a Multiple Sclerosis Centre after drug discontinuation due to the occurrence of lymphopenia.

Medical malpractice, defensive medicine and role of the "media" in Italy.

Background: For many years until now, Italy has been subjected to an inconsistent and contradictory media campaign. On one hand the "media" present us with bold and reassuring messages about the progress of medical science; on the other hand they are prone to kneejerk criticism every time medical treatment does not have the desired effect, routinely describing such cases as glaring examples of "malasanità", an Italian word of recent coinage used to denote medical malpractice. Newspaper reports of legal proceedings involving health treatment are frequently full of errors and lack any scientific basis.