Helminth parasites of fish and shellfish from the Santa Gilla Lagoon in southern Sardinia, Italy.

An extensive survey of helminth parasites in fish and shellfish species from Santa Gilla, a brackish water lagoon in southern Sardinia (western Mediterranean), resulted in the identification of 69 helminth parasite taxa and/or species from 13 fish species (n= 515) and seven bivalve species (n= 2322) examined between September 2001 and July 2011. The list summarizes information on the helminth parasites harboured by fish and molluscs contained in the available literature. Digenea species (37), both adults and larvae, dominated the parasite fauna, whereas Cestoda were the least represented class (three species). Monogenea, Nematoda and Acanthocephala were present with 17, 6 and 6 species, respectively, which were mainly adults. The most widespread parasite species was the generalist Contracaecum rudolphii A (Nematoda). Other species, such as the Haploporidae and Ascocotyle (Phagicola) spp. 1 and 2 (Digenea), showed a high family specificity in Mugilidae. Importantly, the study recorded the occurrence of potential zoonotic agents, such as Heterophyes heterophyes, Ascocotyle (Phagicola) spp. and C. rudolphii A, the latter two reaching the highest indices of infection in the highly marketed fish grey mullet and sea bass, respectively. The highest parasite richness was detected in Dicentrarchus labrax, which harboured 17 helminth species, whereas the lowest value was observed in Atherina boyeri, infected by only three species. The list includes the first geographical record in Italian coastal waters of Robinia aurata and Stictodora sawakinensis, and 30 reports of new host-parasite complexes, including the larval stages of Ascocotyle (Ascocotyle) sp. and Southwellina hispida in D. labrax.

Phase II study of preoperative irradiation and chemotherapy with capecitabine in patients with locally advanced rectal carcinoma.

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy has demonstrated to improve resectability and local control in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). 5-fluorouracil (5FU) has traditionally been the drug of choice in combination with radiation therapy. Early studies of capecitabine (CAP) have shown its potential to replace 5FU. Between March 2002 and April 2005, 31 patients with newly diagnosed LARC (T2 N+ 2 cases, T3 N0-N+ 25 cases, T4 N0-N+ 4 cases) received the combined treatment. Surgery was planned 6-8 weeks after chemoradiation. Adjuvant chemotherapy with 5FU plus leucovorin for 6 courses was given in pN+ patients. All patients completed the planned treatment. Grade 3 acute toxicity was observed in 5 patients (16%). Nineteen patients (61%) had a downstaging. A complete pathological remission was observed in 3 cases (10%). Median follow-up is of 23 months (range; 6-36 months). The results of this experience confirm the data of the literature about the feasibility and efficacy of a neoadjuvant treatment with radiation and CAP in LARC.

Molecular characterization of a rare hemoglobin variant: Hb-Hinsdale: beta139(H17)ASN-->Lys.

The authors describe the characteristics of a rare hemoglobin mutant found in a young female. She carries the aminoacid replacement of Hb-Hinsdale:beta139(H17)ASN-->Lys, which was identified at molecular level. This case, clinically and hematologically symptomless, is identical, but genetically independent, to the cases first described in an American family.

Determination of the human salivary peptides histatins 1, 3, 5 and statherin by high-performance liquid chromatography and by diode-array detection.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with diode-array detection for the quantification of several human salivary peptides is described. Sample pretreatment consisted of the acidification of whole saliva by phosphate buffer. This treatment produced precipitation of mucins, alpha-amylases and other high-molecular-mass salivary proteins, simultaneous inhibition of intrinsic protease activities and reduction of sample viscosity. Direct HPLC analysis by diode-array detection of the resulting acidic sample allowed one to quantify histatin 1, histatin 3, histatin 5, statherin, as well as uric acid, in normal subjects. Moreover, the groups of peaks pertaining to proline-rich proteins and cystatins were tentatively identified. The method can be useful in assessing the concentration of salivary peptides from normal subjects and from patients suffering oral and/or periodontal diseases.