Illicit drugs as new environmental pollutants: cyto-genotoxic effects of cocaine on the biological model Dreissena polymorpha.

The increase in global consumption of illicit drugs has produced not only social and medical problems but also a potential new environmental danger. Indeed, it has been established that drugs consumed by humans end up in surface waters, after being carried through the sewage system. Although many studies to measure concentrations of several drugs of abuse in freshwater worldwide have been conducted, no data have been available to evaluate their potentially harmful effects on non-target organisms until now. The present study represents the first attempt to investigate the cyto-genotoxic effects of cocaine, one of the primary drugs consumed in Western Countries, in the biological model Dreissena polymorpha by the use of a biomarker battery. We performed the following tests on Zebra mussel hemocytes: the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay, the apoptosis frequency evaluation and the micronucleus assay (MN test) for the evaluation of genotoxicity and the lysosomal membranes stability test (neutral red retention assay; NRRA) to identify the cocaine cytotoxicity. We exposed the molluscs for 96 h to three different nominal concentrations in water (40 ng L(-1); 220 ng L(-1); and 10 µg L(-1)). Cocaine caused significant (p<0.05) primary DNA damage in this short-term experiment, but it also caused a clear increase in micronucleated cells and a marked rise in apoptosis, which was evident in samples from even the lowest environmental cocaine concentration. Because cocaine decreased the stability of lysosomal membranes, we also highlighted its cytotoxicity and the possible implications of oxidative stress for the observed genotoxic effects.

A multi-biomarker assessment of the impact of the antibacterial trimethoprim on the non-target organism Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha).

A battery of eight biomarkers was applied in the freshwater mussel Dreissena polymorpha to evaluate potential sub-lethal effects of the antimicrobial trimethoprim (TMP, 5-[3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl]pyrimidine-2,4-diamine). Mussels were exposed for 96 h to increasing concentrations (1, 3, 10 nM) of TMP in in vivo experiments. We determined the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay, the micronucleus test (MN test), the apoptotic frequency (Halo assay) and the lysosomal membrane stability (Neutral Red Retention Assay) in mussel hemocytes. Moreover, to reveal whether the oxidative status was altered, measurements of the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the phase II detoxifying enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST) were performed using the cytosolic fraction extracted from a pool of entire mussels. The biomarker battery pointed out only a moderate cyto- and genotoxicity on Zebra mussel hemocytes since only a slight increase in DNA damage was registered by apoptosis induction and MN frequency, while significant differences of lysosomal membrane stability from baseline levels were measured at 3 and 10 nM at the end of exposures only. Finally, TMP seems to have a very low induction capability or even an inhibitory effect on the activities of antioxidant enzymes, but a clear significant induction on GST.

Social support and psychological distress in primary care attenders. Ferrara SIMG Group.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence has been collected about the high prevalence of psychological distress in primary care. The role of psychosocial variables, namely the role of support from the patients' interpersonal ties, has not been extensively explored. METHODS: The study investigated the relationship between perceived social support, as evaluated by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and psychological distress, as measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory, in 1,341 primary care attenders. RESULTS: In comparison with highly supported patients, lowly supported subjects showed higher scores on distress dimensions (e.g. depression, anxiety, phobia) and a higher prevalence of psychological morbidity ('caseness' = 37.3 vs. 11%). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that, in the setting of primary care, the GPs' assessment of their patients' social support system may be useful in identifying those more vulnerable to psychological stress.

[A new case of gallbladder agenesis]. / Su di un nuovo caso di agenesia della colecisti.

On the basis of a case of agenesis of the gallbladder personally observed the most significant epidemiologic, etiopathogenetic, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this rare anatomic anomaly are analyzed. Finally, the validity of explorative laparotomy for both an accurate diagnosis and intra-operative evaluation of the surgical measures to be taken is confirmed.

[Unique duodenal metastasis of malignant melanoma: diagnostic-therapeutic observations on a case]. / Metastasi duodenale unica da melanoma maligno: osservazioni diagnostico-terapeutiche su un caso.

The Authors report a case of solitary metastasis from malignant melanoma (unknown primary site) and analyze the most striking statistical, anatomo-pathologic and diagnostic problems related to this pathology. They also recommend a wider use of those methods which allow an early diagnosis and confirm the validity of those surgical measures in order to limit the most serious complications of this condition. Finally they stress the most recent collateral and/or alternative oncologic therapies available to improve the quality of life and increase patients survival.