The transcriptomic response of the coral Acropora digitifera to a competent Symbiodinium strain: the symbiosome as an arrested early phagosome.

Despite the ecological significance of the relationship between reef-building corals and intracellular photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in its establishment. Indeed, microarray-based analyses point to the conclusion that host gene expression is largely or completely unresponsive during the establishment of symbiosis with a competent strain of Symbiodinium. In this study, the use of Illumina RNA-Seq technology allowed detection of a transient period of differential expression involving a small number of genes (1073 transcripts; <3% of the transcriptome) 4 h after the exposure of Acropora digitifera planulae to a competent strain of Symbiodinium (a clade B strain). This phenomenon has not previously been detected as a consequence of both the lower sensitivity of the microarray approaches used and the sampling times used. The results indicate that complex changes occur, including transient suppression of mitochondrial metabolism and protein synthesis, but are also consistent with the hypothesis that the symbiosome is a phagosome that has undergone early arrest, raising the possibility of common mechanisms in the symbiotic interactions of corals and symbiotic sea anemones with their endosymbionts.

Making seawalls multifunctional: The positive effects of seeded bivalves and habitat structure on species diversity and filtration rates.

The marine environment is being increasingly modified by the construction of artificial structures, the impacts of which may be mitigated through eco-engineering. To date, eco-engineering has predominantly aimed to increase biodiversity, but enhancing other ecological functions is arguably of equal importance for artificial structures. Here, we manipulated complexity through habitat structure (flat, and 2.5 cm, 5 cm deep vertical and 5 cm deep horizontal crevices) and seeding with the native oyster (Saccostrea glomerata, unseeded and seeded) on concrete tiles (0.25 m × 0.25 m) affixed to seawalls to investigate whether complexity (both orientation and depth of crevices) influences particle removal rates by suspension feeders and colonisation by different functional groups, and whether there are any ecological trade-offs between these functions. After 12 months, complex seeded tiles generally supported a greater abundance of suspension feeding taxa and had higher particle removal rates than flat tiles or unseeded tiles. The richness and diversity of taxa also increased with complexity. The effect of seeding was, however, generally weaker on tiles with complex habitat structure. However, the orientation of habitat complexity and the depth of the crevices did not influence particle removal rates or colonising taxa. Colonisation by non-native taxa was low compared to total taxa richness. We did not detect negative ecological trade-offs between increased particle removal rates and diversity and abundance of key functional groups. Our results suggest that the addition of complexity to marine artificial structures could potentially be used to enhance both biodiversity and particle removal rates. Consequently, complexity should be incorporated into future eco-engineering projects to provide a range of ecological functions in urbanised estuaries.

MHC-linked genetic factors (HLA-B35) influencing recurrent circumoral herpetic lesions.

The frequencies of HLA-A, B, C, DR, and DQ lymphocyte alloantigens were determined in 31 Sicilian patients with recurrent herpetic lesions (RHL) and compared to frequencies observed in normal individuals. A significant negative association was found for HLA-B35 (pc = 0.049). The relationships between HLA and immune responses to viral infections are discussed in light of the results revealed by the present investigation suggesting that HLA-linked genetic factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of RHL. The results seem to indicate that genes in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are influential against developing RHL.

[A survey of dental-periodontal pathology in a sample of blind adult subjects]. / Rilevamento della patologia dento-parodontale in un campione di soggetti adulti non vedenti.

The authors, after a short inquiry into the Italian epidemiological reality of blind subjects, explain the results of a study made on a sample of 105 blind adults (average age: 60.3 years) in order to check their oral health conditions. In particular, they have pointed out the DMFT index, the average number of permanent teeth present, the OHI-S index in its two components ID and IC, the CPITN index. The results of this study point is a high DMFT index, mainly owing to teeth extracted for periodontal disease. A high OHI-S index and the prevalence of the codes 2 e 3 of the CPITN index direct the therapeutical choice towards a professional oral hygiene and oral preventive protocols adequate to their sensorial deficiency.

[An unusual case of osteoclastoma of the mandible. Clinical and histological study]. / Su un raro caso di osteoclastoma della mandibola. Contributo clinico ed istologico.

The authors describe an interesting case of osteoclastoma of the mandible. After the clinical and anatomy-pathologic general picture, the problem of differential diagnosis between osteoclastoma and giant cell epulis is analysed.

[Recent advances in diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome]. / Recenti acquisizioni nella diagnosi della sindrome di Sjogren.

In this paper the authors review the classification and the clinical features of primary and secondary Sjogren's syndrome. Particular attention in focused on differential diagnosis, on clinical examination of the patients with chronic xerostomia and on its functional and pathological sequelae: rampant dental caries and oral candidiasis. Advanced in diagnostic procedures are described: salivary flow rate, salivary gland scintigraphy, parotid and submandibular scialography, Schirmer's test, Rose Bengal staining, minor salivary gland biopsy and serum immunological examinations. The relationships between scintigraphic and histologic result are discussed. The clinical features and the course of the disease provide further insight into the immunological pathogenesis of this syndrome.

[Plasmacellular neoplasms of the head and neck: clinical status and personal experience]. / Le neoplasie plasmacellulari nel distretto oro-facciale: contributo all'inquadramento clinico ed esperienze personali.

In this review, the authors examine the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic advances in clinical management of Solitary Plasmacytoma of bone, Extramedullary Plasmacytoma and their relationship to multiple myeloma. The clinical differences among these tumors are the subject of continued studies. Oral symptoms and signs of the neoplasias are relatively common. The literature is reviewed with respect to the prevalence of oral and maxillofacial manifestations and the presence of such manifestations as the first sign and/or symptom of disease. The case of a young adult patient, with a kappa-light-chain positive extramedullary plasmacytoma of the maxillary sinus is presented. The reported case illustrates the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach using relevant immuno-hematologic, radiographic and histologic investigations in the differential diagnosis of these tumors. Factors influencing the prognosis of these neoplastic lesions are also discussed.

HLA-A, B, C, DR, MT, and MB antigens in recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

In this report we have investigated the frequencies of HLA-A, B, C, DR, MT, and MB markers in 26 Sicilian subjects affected by recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and in 84 healthy controls. Our data show that the frequency of HLA-DR7 antigen is significantly increased in RAS-affected persons (61.5% versus 21.4%; pc less than 0.0025), whereas the B5 antigen frequency is decreased significantly (absent in patients versus 27.3% in controls; pc = 0.04). Thus, present results suggest that HLA-linked genetic factors may play a role in the development of RAS.

Lack of correlation between HLA-B35 resistance against herpes labialis and antibody titers to HSV-1.

To investigate whether genetic factors linked to the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) might influence individual resistance to recurrent herpes labialis (RHL), we studied the frequencies of HLA-A, -B, and -C antigens in a sample of Sicilian population. The frequency of HLA-B35 was significantly decreased in the patient group (p corrected = 0.018). Consequently, the relative risk of development of RHL in a subject positive for HLA-B35 was 20 times smaller than in a subject who does not bear B35. Furthermore, a study was made of the possible relationship between the presence of HLA-B35 antigen and antibody titers to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in 62 persons affected or not by RHL. Significantly elevated titers to HSV-1 were found in the diseased group (p less than 0.001), but the geometric mean of antibody titers in HLA-B35 positive subjects was not different from that of B35 negative subjects either of RHL-affected or in healthy persons. These data are in a good agreement with the hypothesis that humoral immune responses play a marginal role in the protection from HSV-1 recurrences.