The pelagic food web of the Western Adriatic Sea: a focus on the role of small pelagics.

The Adriatic Sea is one of the largest areas of occurrence of shared small pelagic stocks and the most fished area of the Mediterranean Sea, which is in turn one of the most exploited basins of the world. The variations in the stable isotope contents (δ15N and δ13C) were determined for three small pelagic fishes (i.e., Engraulis encrasicolus, Sardina pilchardus, and Sprattus sprattus, respectively known as anchovies, sardines and sprats) collected across the western side of the basin. Our data allowed to determine the width and features of their trophic niches, to assess potential overlap or resource partitioning among them, and likely anticipate species adaptation to future climate change scenarios. Moreover, variations in stable isotope contents were correlated to both resource availability (i.e., mesozooplankton) and environmental variables. The high productivity and in turn the high resource availability of the basin, especially in the northern part, resulted in favor of the resource partitioning that occurs in each sub-area of the Adriatic Sea among the three species. Medium-sized specimens of the three species mostly fed on small zooplankton, while adult sprats relied on large copepods and those of sardines and anchovies also consumed large portion of phytoplankton, confirming the high trophic plasticity of these two dominants small pelagic species. However, considering that anchovies have the greatest degree of trophic diversity compared with the other two species, they could be the most adapted to changing feeding conditions. The increase in sea temperatures that are reducing primary production and in turn zooplankton abundances, coupled with even more frequent extreme meteorologic events could exacerbate the competition for trophic resources among pelagic mesopredators, and could lead to more notable stocks' fluctuations and unpredictable wasp-waist effects.

Production of vasoactive amines during the ripening of Pecorino Carmasciano cheese.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of the vasoactive amines, histamine and tyramine, and of other biogenic amines (putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine, and spermine) during the ripening of pecorino Carmasciano cheese, a traditional Italian cheese produced with raw sheep milk. Vasoactive amines, which may pose health risks for consumers, showed relatively low levels near the end of Carmasciano ripening (136.41 mg/kg tyramine and 65.5 mg/kg histamine). The other biogenic amines were also detected and showed increasing levels with time. Results demonstrated that the concentrations of the vasoactive amines were always below the limits established for other foods. However, the data concerning raw materials and the increasing trend of certain biogenic amines highlight the need to control indigenous bacterial populations responsible for amine production, including the implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices and adequate training of staff.

Mucosal inflammation in idiopathic bronchiectasis: cellular and molecular mechanisms.

Bronchiectasis is a chronic and debilitating lung disease, characterised by irreversible dilatation of the bronchi as consequence of airway injury and remodelling due to recurrent or chronic airway inflammation and infection. The underlying aetiologies include autoimmune diseases, severe infections, genetic abnormalities and acquired disorders. The pathogenesis of bronchiectasis is poorly understood. Three distinct pathogenetic elements, namely infection, inflammation and enzymatic actions, which interact with each other, have been implicated in the pathophysiology of bronchiectasis. Some recent observations indicate that airway inflammation in bronchiectasis comes from a deregulated cytokine network independent of bacterial airway colonisation. In the present review, current knowledge about cellular and molecular inflammatory events in the dynamic process of host-pathogen interaction that are thought to play a relevant role in the pathogenic mechanisms of airway wall destruction leading to bronchiectasis are discussed.

Euthyroid goitre and sleep apnea.

A number of predisposing factors (obesity, nasal obstruction, adenoidal hypertrophy, macroglossia, etc) have been related to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). In addition hypothyroidism and large goitres have been reported to be associated to OSAS, but this association has not been adequately studied. We describe an obese patient with euthyroid goitre associated with OSAS. The patient showed a body mass index (BMI) of 47 and a large neck with a circumference of 60 cm. The flow-volume curve demonstrated an expiratory plateau suggesting an intrathoracic upper airway obstruction. Arterial blood gas analysis results were: pH 7.39; PCO2 54.2 mmHg; P O2 47 mmHg. Nocturnal polisomnography showed an apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) of 31 episodes/hour. Upper airway collapse was overcome by a nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) of 14 cmH2O. Weight loss obtained by a hypocaloric diet was not accompanied by any OSAS improvement. After thyroidectomy, a nCPAP of 4 cmH2O was sufficient to prevent upper airway closure. Discontinuation of nCPAP treatment for 4 consecutive nights did not determine worsening of sleep apnea symptoms, nor a worsening of overnight oxymetry. A new polysomnography carried out after 4 nights off nCPAP showed an AHI of 33 episodes/hour. OSAS should be suspected in patients with large goitres. Decisions regarding discontinuation of nCPAP treatment after thyroidectomy should be based on polisomnographic results.

New polyhydroxylated triterpenes and anti-inflammatory activity of Salvia hierosolymitana.

Salvia hierosolymitana (Lamiaceae) leaves were investigated for their topical anti-inflammatory properties following a bioassay-guided fractionation. The chloroform extract showed a strong inhibition of the Croton oil-induced ear oedema in mice, comparable to that of indomethacin. Phytochemical and pharmacological investigations of this extract led to the isolation of eight anti-inflammatory polyhydroxylated triterpenes of the ursane and oleanane series. Four of them are new compounds, whose structures were elucidated by NMR and mass spectroscopy as 3beta, 6alpha,23-trihydroxyurs-12,19(29)-dien-28-oic acid, 23-( TRANS-P-coumaroyloxy)-3beta, 6alpha,30-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid, 2alpha,3beta-dihydroxyolean-28-oic acid and 24-nor-2alpha,3beta-dihydroxyolean-4(23),12-ene.

Nocturnal mechanical ventilation improves exercise capacity in kyphoscoliotic patients with respiratory impairment.

BACKGROUND: Patients with severe kyphoscoliosis, with or without stable respiratory failure, frequently experience oxyhaemoglobin desaturation during sleep, exercise, or both. Nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) applied during sleep has been demonstrated to be able to control nocturnal desaturations and also improve diurnal respiratory failure, if this is present, in this group of patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a seven-day treatment with nocturnal NIPPV on exercise tolerance in a group of 6 patients with severe kyphoscoliosis and significant nocturnal and exercise-induced oxyhaemoglobin desaturation. METHODS: NIPPV was applied each night for a week by means of a volume cycled pressure ventilator set in assisted/controlled mode. In each patient lung function, daytime arterial blood gas analysis, overnight non invasive recording of arterial saturation, and 6-minutes walking test were carried out initially and at the end of the NIPPV course. RESULTS: During nocturnal NIPPV, as compared to baseline, the percent of night time spent below 90% of oxyhaemoglobin saturation significantly fell from 20 +/- 12.8 to 2.3 +/- 1.9 (Student t-test: p = 0.017). The 6-minute walking distance significantly increased from 244.7 +/- 132.2 to 340 +/- 122.3 m (p = 0.0097). Spirometry, daytime arterial blood gas analysis, and exercise-induced oxyhaemoglobin desaturation were unaffected by treatment. CONCLUSION: A one-week course of treatment with nocturnal NIPPV improves exercise capacity in patients with severe kyphoscoliosis.

Eosinophilic inflammation in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Relationship with neutrophils and airway function.

The number and significance of airway eosinophils in stable COPD is controversial. Aims of this study were to evaluate airway inflammation in patients with stable COPD compared with other groups, and to examine the correlations between inflammatory markers and functional indices of airway obstruction. Cellular analysis and evaluation of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels in induced sputum were made in 46 subjects (10 patients with clinically stable COPD, 15 patients with asthma, 11 asymptomatic smokers, and 10 healthy control subjects). As expected, eosinophils were significantly (p < 0.01) higher in patients with asthma (22.2%) than in other groups (COPD, 0.7%; smokers, 0.2%; control subjects, 0.2%), and neutrophils were significantly (p < 0.01) higher in patients with COPD (77.5%) than in the other groups (asthma, 26.7%; smokers, 33.1%; control subjects, 35.9%). However, eosinophils were also increased in patients with COPD, as compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05). Sputum ECP levels were significantly and similarly higher in both asthma and COPD groups than in the other two groups (p < 0.01). In patients with COPD and asymptomatic smokers, considered as a whole, good correlations were found between eosinophils and ECP, on the one hand, and between FEV(1) and the FEV(1)/FVC ratio, on the other. Our data suggest that eosinophils may be involved in the airway inflammation of COPD.

Treatment of reversible chronic airways obstruction with doxofylline compared with slow-release theophylline: a double-blind, randomized, multicentre trial.

A multicentre, double-blind, randomized trial was carried out in 11 Italian Pneumologic Clinics to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and tolerability of doxofylline compared with slow-release theophylline in 139 patients (86 males, 53 females) aged 17-77 years suffering from reversible chronic airways obstruction. The two groups of 69 patients on doxofylline and 70 patients on theophylline did not differ in their baseline clinical and functional parameters. After one week of wash-out, the two drugs were administered orally at a dose of 400 mg twice daily of doxofylline and 300 mg twice daily of theophylline. The treatment and follow-up lasted 28 days. Inhaled salbutamol on demand was allowed in the wash-out week and throughout the trial. The average serum levels at day 14 and 28 were: doxofylline 7.5 and 8.5 micrograms/ml; theophylline 10.4 and 7.95 micrograms/ml respectively. Both drugs significantly increased spirometric parameters (p less than 0.001 for all tests) and significantly reduced salbutamol consumption (p less than 0.001 for both drugs). Doxofylline was better tolerated than theophylline considering either the number of unwanted side-effects: (doxofylline 12; theophylline 37) or number of drop-outs due to side-effects (doxofylline 5; theophylline 10). From these results doxofylline seemed to be a good alternative to theophylline in the treatment of reversible chronic airway obstruction in view of its better safety profile.