Plastic ingestion in aquatic insects: Implications of waterbirds and landfills and association with stable isotopes.

Wetlands provide numerous ecosystem services including freshwater purification. Nonetheless, their functionality is continuously impacted by many pollutants. Plastics are considered as an emerging threat for these ecosystems, but only recently have studies began to focus on plastic and microplastic (MP) contamination in wetlands, especially in biota. This study aims to investigate the abundance of MPs in two ubiquitous aquatic insect taxa (i.e. Corixidae (Hemiptera) and Chironomidae (Diptera)) collected in twelve zones within Mediterranean wetlands belonging to three basins located in Andalusia (south-west Spain). We compared MP contamination across basins and tested the proximity to landfills and presence of colonial waterbirds [i.e. white storks (Ciconia ciconia) and gulls (Larus michahellis and L. fuscus)] on MP abundance in aquatic insects. We also performed stable isotope analyses of nitrogen and carbon (δ15N and δ13C) to evaluate the potential association between MP abundance and isotopic values. We detected 571 suspected MPs (mostly blue fibers) in insects of different developmental stages (i.e., larvae, pupae, nymphs and adults). Polyesters and polypropylene were the most frequent polymers detected. The generalized linear mixed models indicated that MP abundance decreased with increasing distance from landfills; but it also increased in sites with birds that fed on landfills and roost in wetlands. When controlling for landfill effects, sites in the smallest basin (Guadalete) had lower MP contamination than those in Odiel-Tinto and the much larger (>15×) Guadalquivir. Moreover, we found a negative association between MPs items/g (or mean MPs) and 15N isotopes in adult corixids. Our findings showed that MP pollution is present in all the study areas, including strictly protected wetlands. The use of aquatic insects for biomonitoring of MP pollution can help identify priority areas for management actions to mitigate plastic pollution.

Life on bottles: Colonisation of macroplastics by freshwater biota.

While rivers are known to be the main vectors of plastics to the sea, it seems surprising that studies on interactions (e.g. colonisation/entrapment and drift) between macroplastics and biota continue to remain largely neglected, notwithstanding they represent unexpected threats to freshwater biota and riverine habitats. To fill these gaps, here we focused on the colonisation of plastic bottles by freshwater biota. To do so, we collected 100 plastic bottles from the River Tiber in summer 2021. Overall, 95 bottles were colonised externally and 23 internally. Specifically, biota mainly occurred within and outside the bottles rather than plastic pieces and organic debris. Moreover, while bottles were externally covered mainly by vegetal organisms (i.e. macrophytes), they internally entrapped more animal organisms (i.e. invertebrates). The taxa most occurring within and outside the bottles belonged to pool and low water quality-associated taxa (e.g. Lemna sp., Gastropoda, and Diptera). In addition to biota and organic debris, plastic particles also occurred on bottles reporting the first observation of 'metaplastics' (i.e. plastics encrusted on bottles). Furthermore, we observed a significant positive correlation between the colonising taxa abundance and the bottle degree degradation. In this regard, we discussed how bottle buoyancy may change due to the organic matter on the bottle, affecting bottle sinking and transport along rivers. Our findings might be crucial for understanding the underrepresented topic of riverine plastics and their colonisation by biota, given that these plastics may act as vectors and cause biogeographical, environmental, and conservation issues to freshwater habitats.

FAK auto-phosphorylation site tyrosine 397 is required for development but dispensable for normal skin homeostasis.

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an intensely studied non-receptor tyrosine kinase with roles in cancer and other common human diseases. Despite the large interest in FAK, the in vivo contribution of FAK auto-phosphorylation site tyrosine (Y) 397 to FAK function is incompletely understood. To study FAK Y397 in vivo we analyzed mice with 'non-phosphorylatable' Y-to-phenylalanine (F) and 'phospho-mimicking' Y-to-glutamate (E) mutations in the germline. We found that FAK Y397F mice die early during embryogenesis with abnormal angiogenesis like FAK kinase-dead mice. When Y397 is mutated to a glutamate mice survive beyond mid-gestation like mice where Y397 is lost by deletion of FAK exon 15. In culture, defects in proliferation, invasion and gene expression were more severe with the FAK Y397F than with the FAK Y397E mutation despite the inability of FAK Y397E to bind SRC. Conditional expression of FAK Y397F or Y397E in unchallenged avascular epidermis, however, resulted in no appreciable phenotype. We conclude that FAK Y397 is required for the highly dynamic tissue remodeling during development but dispensable for normal homeostasis of avascular epidermis. In contrast to the Y397F mutation, FAK Y397E retains sufficient biological activity to allow for development beyond mid-gestation.

Three-dimensional hip and knee kinematics during walking, running, and single-limb drop landing in females with and without genu valgum.

BACKGROUND: Dynamic knee valgus in females has been associated with various knee pathologies. Abnormal 3D hip and knee kinematics contribute prominently to this presentation, and these may become more aberrant with more demanding tasks. Underlying genu valgus may also accentuate such kinematics, but this effect has never been tested. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare 3D hip and knee kinematics during walking, running, and single-limb drop landing in females with and without genu valgus malalignment. We expected abnormal kinematics to become more evident in the valgus subjects as task demands increased. METHODS: Eighteen healthy females with genu valgum and 18 female controls with normal alignment underwent 3D motion analysis while performing walking, running, and single-limb drop-landing trials. Sagittal, frontal, and transverse plane hip and knee kinematics were compared between groups across tasks using analyses of variance and between-group effect sizes. FINDINGS: Group differences did not generally increase with higher forces. The valgus females demonstrated decreased hip flexion (ES=0.72-0.88) and increased knee abduction (ES=0.87-1.47) across the tasks. During running and single-limb drop landing, they showed increased knee external rotation (ES=0.69-0.73). Finally, during walking, the valgus females showed increased hip adduction (ES=0.69). INTERPRETATION: These results suggest that females with genu valgus alignment utilize aberrant hip and knee mechanics previously associated with dynamic valgus in the literature, but that these pathomechanics do not generally worsen with rising task demands. Healthy females that present with genu valgus may be natively at elevated risk for knee pathology.

[Supravalvular aortic stenosis. Report of 3 cases]. / Stenosi sopravalvolare aortica. Descrizione di tre casi.

In the following article three cases of supravalvular aortic stenosis are presented: the first two cases refer to two brothers. The older, a 22-year-old man presenting with palpitations, underwent echocardiography and Doppler that showed an hour-glass supravalvular aortic stenosis with a peak gradient of 115 mmHg, associated with dilation of the left main coronary artery and stenosis of the left carotid artery at its origin. The patient's family was evaluated by echocardiography, and an 18-year-old brother was similarly found to have an hour-glass supravalvular aortic stenosis, graded mild to moderate (peak gradient 40 mmHg). Both cases are probably familiar forms of supravalvular aortic stenosis with normal facies and intelligence (autosomal dominant transmission). The elder brother, with severe stenosis, underwent surgical replacement of the ascending aorta. The third patient was a 23-year-old woman with a previous diagnosis of congenital aortic stenosis. Her characteristic elfic facies induced us to suspect the syndrome of Williams-Beuren; transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic examination showed an hour-glass supravalvular aortic stenosis with a peak gradient of 60 mmHg. Magnetic resonance imaging showed hypoplasia of the descending aorta and the iliac arteries. Since she was asymptomatic and presented only with a moderate gradient, the patient was not referred to surgical therapy. In this manuscript we present the three cases and review the histopathological, clinical, genetic, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this disease and its natural history.

[Ureteral jet in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy: prognostic evaluation during single and combined therapy]. / Il jet ureterale nei pazienti con ipertrofia prostatica benigna: valutazioni prognostiche in corso di terapia singola e combinata.

By color-Doppler ultrasound it's possible to visualize urine flow jet from ureter into the bladder. Aim of the study was to evaluate of ureteral jet in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia before, during and after with one or two drugs medical therapy. Thirteen patients, aged 51-63 years, were studied; they were not affected by metabolic, hepatic, renal diseases and by prostate inflammation. Eco color Doppler p.w. (Toshiba SSA 270A) with a convex probe of 3.5 MHz was used. A transabdominal ultrasound study was performed, prostate volume measured and ureteral jet visualized before and along treatment (at six months interval) with Finasteride and at the end of treatment. Successively, in four patients, with relapse of prostatic synptomatology, a transabdominal ultrasound study was performed, before and along a treatment with Finasteride, 5 mg/die (Finastid, Neopharmed) and Terazosin hydrochloride, 5 mg/die (Teraprost, Malesci), and at the end of treatment.

[Acute changes in the hemodynamic profile and circulating levels of atrial natriuretic peptide induced by dobutamine in severe heart failure]. / Modificazioni acute del profilo emodinamico e dei livelli circolanti di peptide natriuretico atriale indotte dalla dobutamina nello scompenso cardiaco grave.

METHODS: Sixteen patients (15 males, 1 female; mean age 63 years, range 45-78) with severe heart failure (NYHA class III = 5; class IV = 11) secondary to ischemic heart disease (8), dilated cardiomyopathy (5) and valvular heart disease (3), were evaluated for eligibility to intermittent Dobutamine (D) treatment. As a part of this evaluation, they were submitted to an acute dose-ranging test with D, up to 10 micrograms/Kg/min under hemodynamic and electrocardiographic monitoring. By inclusion criteria, all patients had:-cardiac index (CI) < 2.2 L/min/m2;-pulmonary wedge pressure (WP) > 18 mmHg;-left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) < 30%. At each step of the procedure, hemodynamic measurements and blood sampling for atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentration were performed. RESULTS: Peak effect, defined as the dose corresponding to the maximum increase in CI, was reached at a mean of 7.8 +/- 0.5 micrograms/Kg/min. CI increased from 1.7 +/- 0.3 to 2.53 +/- 0.7 L/min/m2 (p < 0.001) and ANP decreased from 234 +/- 112 to 173 +/- 118 pg/ml (p < 0.001). Correspondingly, heart rate, stroke volume index and stroke work index increased, while right atrial pressure (RAP), mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), WP, systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance all significantly decreased. Mean arterial pressure was not affected. Changes in ANP concentration correlate significantly with changes in WP and in PAP (r = 0.65, p < 0.05 and r = 0.89, p < 0.001, respectively), but not with changes in RAP (r = 0.26, p = 0.34). Patients showing an increase > 40% in CI or a CI > or = 2.5 L/min/m2 at peak effect (responders) had significantly lower baseline PAP with respect to non-responders. Besides PAP, baseline ANP levels, end-systolic pressure/volume ratio and ejection fraction were also independent predictors of response. The test did not induce complex arrhythmias and was well tolerated in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe heart failure retain the ability to respond to acute administration of D. with a significant improvement in their hemodynamic profile. Response to D. administration is predicted by lower baseline pulmonary pressure and ANP levels and a lesser degree of left ventricular dysfunction. Despite high baseline ANP concentration, a significant decrease is obtained which parallels the decrease in pulmonary artery and pulmonary wedge pressure, but is not related to changes in right atrial pressure. These findings suggest that changes in left ventricular performance induced by D. are the major determinants of the decrease in ANP concentration in this clinical setting.