Agricultural drift depositional simulation of a copper-based fungicide and its effects on non-target terrestrial and freshwater compartments.

Our research investigated the potential impacts of the fungicide Bordeaux mixture drift processes on off-target species representing terrestrial vegetation and fluvial-lacustrine zooplankton. The simulation of drift events was carried out by a predictive scaling analysis of the quantities potentially exported to a predetermined area adjacent to an agricultural field. The theoretical rate of deposition on a terrestrial species, the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea, was calculated following high (4 kg ha-1) and low (2 kg ha-1) rate treatments using anti-drift nozzles and non-anti-drift nozzles. The experimental set up consisted in 40 boxes holding lichen thalli, all stored in a climatic chamber for 40 days. Spraying of the fungicide was alternated with rainfall simulations to reproduce scenarios related to agricultural practices. Following a single simulation, anti-drift nozzles resulted in a higher overall load deposited per unit of lichen surface area compared to non-anti-drift nozzles, although both loads significantly differed from controls. However, only anti-drift nozzles, associated with the high rate, caused a remarkable impairment of several ecophysiological parameters, differing (p < 0.05) from controls. Rainfalls promoted activation of lichen metabolism, mitigating the cell damage, but exported only 2.5% of the copper deposited on the thalli surfaces. Nevertheless, the exposure of Daphnia magna neonates to leachates showed significant outcomes for the two rates. After only 24 h, leachates resulting from the high application rate led to widespread mortality, which appeared to be extremely relevant after 48 h, whereas the lower rate induced much lower toxicity for both exposure times.

Impact of treatments on fecal microbiota and fecal metabolome in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon: a pilot study.

Symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) affects 50% of people having diverticulosis. We performed a pilot study assessing the effect of current treatments on fecal microbiota and metabolome in SUDD. Thirteen consecutive females with SUDD were treated with a 2-week therapeutic trial of 30 g/day fiber supplementation (3 patients), 1.6 g/day of mesalazine (3 patients), 900 billion/day of probiotic mixture VivoMixx® (3 patients), or 800 mg/day of rifaximin (4 patients). Stool samples were collected at entry (T0), at the end of the 2-week therapeutic course (T1), and 30 (T2) and 60 days (T3) after the end of the therapeutic course. Real-time PCR quantified targeted microorganisms. Fecal metabolome patterns were studied by high-resolution proton NMR spectroscopy. At cumulative analysis, symptoms significantly decreased at each time point during follow-up (p less than 0.0001), and only left-lower quadrant pain increased again at T3. The overall bacterial quantity was not altered by the treatments. The amount of Akkermansia muciniphila species was significantly reduced at T1 (p=0.017) and at T2 (p=0.026), while at T3 the reduction was not significant in comparison to enrollment (p=0.090). Fecal molecular profile showed significant changes at T1 and T2, while at T3 it became similar to that of T0. Differences were found for 18 of the quantified molecules (tryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosine, 4-hydroxyphenylacetate, urocanate, X-6.363, X-5.779, uridylate, galactose, X-4.197, threonine, sarcosine, methionine, 2-oxoisocaproate, 5-aminolevulinate, alanine, leucine, valerate). Metabolome and microbiota changed in patients with SUDD under treatment, confirming a possible role of dysbiosis/dysmetabolome in the pathology.

Assessment of nutritional status and therapy in emergency Medicine settings.

Hospital malnutrition is becoming a clinical concern. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of hospital malnutrition through Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS) and to evaluate nutritional risk through a prospective study. Nutritional status was assessed collecting anthropometric parameters together with the data relating to the diseases in the medical records of patients admitted to the Department of Emergency Medicine of the "Sant'Eugenio" Hospital. One hundred and sixty patients were retrospectively enrolled during a 3-month observational period. The risk of malnutrition was detected in 52% of patients (of whom 38% at risk and 62% at serious risk). The NRS score was positively correlated with patient age, days between hospital admission and nutritional assessment, disease severity, length of hospital stay and catabolism (p less than 0.05); Basal Energy Expenditure (BEE) and mean arm circumference (MUAC) were negatively correlated with positive outcome (p less than 0.05). No correlations were found in the NRS score, gender, height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and Total Energetic Expenditure (TEE) (p=n.s). A high prevalence of the risk of malnutrition may be detected in the emergency medicine setting, particularly in the geriatric population. The NRS score is not strictly related to BMI, but rather is an excellent tool for disease prognosis, as well as nutritional screening.

Expression of basic fibroblastic growth factor, syndecan 1 and tumour necrosis factor α in resected acute colonic diverticulitis.

AIM: Inflammation and fibrosis are present in both colonic diverticulitis and Crohn's disease (CD). The molecular pattern of basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) and syndecan 1 (SD1) expression is altered in stenosing CD, but their expression in resected complicated colonic diverticulitis (ACD) is unknown. METHOD: The expression of bFGF, SD1 and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in 20 patients after resection of ACD was compared with 15 patients having a resection for CD. Analysis was conducted using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in biopsy samples. RESULTS: Lymphocytic and neutrophil inflammation scores were similar in both groups (P = 0.771 and P = 0.562). TNF-α and bFGF expression was significantly higher in ACD than in CD (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.009). SD1 expression was similar in both groups (P = 0.841). CONCLUSION: TNF-α and bFGF are significantly overexpressed in ACD with respect to CD, whilst SD1 levels do not differ. The findings confirm that inflammation and its association with altered molecular patterns of mucosal healing may play an important role in the phenotype of the diseases.

Comparison of the effectiveness of infliximab and adalimumab in preventing postoperative recurrence in patients with Crohn's disease: an open-label, pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic and clinical recurrence of Crohn's disease (CD) appears in up to 80 and 30 % of patients, respectively, 1 year after surgery. Both infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA) have been demonstrated to be effective in reducing the possibility of recurrence after surgery, but head-to-head studies have not been performed so far. The aim of this open-label prospective study was to compare endoscopic, histological and clinical recurrence after 1 year of treatment with IFX or ADA as postoperative prophylaxis in CD patients with a high risk of recurrence. METHODS: Consecutive CD patients who underwent curative ileocolonic resection were randomized to receive IFX or ADA for 1 year. Co-primary endpoints were endoscopic, histological and clinical recurrence after 12 months of therapy. RESULTS: Twenty consecutive CD patients (9 males and 11 females; median age 32.5 years, range 20-39 years) were enrolled after undergoing curative ileocolonic resection. Among the 10 patients treated with IFX, 2 (20 %) had endoscopic recurrence compared to 1 (10 %) in the group of 10 ADA patients (p = 1.0). Three out of 10 (30 %) IFX patients and 2 out of 10 (20 %) ADA patients had histological recurrence (p = 1.0). No significant clinical differences were found between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: IFX and ADA were similar in preventing histological, endoscopic and clinical recurrence after curative ileocolonic resection in high risk CD patients.

Effectiveness of different therapeutic strategies in preventing diverticulitis recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Colonic diverticulitis shows a high recurrence rate. AIMS: To assess the efficacy of three different therapeutic strategies in preventing diverticulitis recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty patients suffering from Acute Uncomplicated Diverticulitis (AUD) (81 males, 49 females, mean age 64.71 years, range 40-85) were prospectively assessed. After obtaining remission, considered present when both endoscopic and histological damage were absent, the patients were treated with mesalazine 1.6 g/day (59 patients, group A), or rifaximin 800 mg/day for 7 days every month (52 patients, group B). Clinical, endoscopic and histological follow-up was performed after 6, 12 and thereafter every 12 months after diagnosis of AUD. RESULTS: Seven patients were excluded from final evaluation because they were lost to follow-up. Fifty-five group A patients and 49 group B patients patients were available for the final assessment at the end of a 24-month follow-up. Sustained remission was significantly higher in group A with respect to group B. CONCLUSIONS: Patients taking mesalazine have lower risk of diverticulitis recurrence than patients taking rifaximin because of the lower prevalence of persisting endoscopic and histological inflammation.

Intermittent versus every-day mesalazine therapy in preventing complications of diverticular disease: a long-term follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Mesalazine seems to be effective in preventing recurrence of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (AUD), but the optimal mesalazine scheme to achieve these results is still debated. AIM: To assess the effectiveness of two different mesalazine-based treatments in preventing recurrence of AUD and the occurrence of other complications of diverticular disease (DD) during a long-term follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed 311 patients suffer from recent episode of AUD and undergoing to mesalazine treatment: 207 (group A, 105 males, median age 63 years, range 47-74 years) were treated with mesalazine 1.6 g for 10 days each month, whilst 104 (group B, 55 males, median age 65 years, range 50-72 years) were treated with mesalazine 1.6 g every day. Patients were followed-up every 6 months (median 7.5 months, range 5-13 months). RESULTS: Patients were followed-up for a mean time of 3 years (range 12-72 months). Overall, occurrence of complication recurred more frequently in group A than in group B (p = 0.030, log-rank test). Acute diverticulitis recurred in 17 (8.2%) patients in group A and in 3 (2.9%) in group B; diverticular bleeding occurred in 4 (1.9%) patients in group A and in 1 (0.96%) patient in group B; surgery was required in 3 (1.4%) patients in group A and in no (0%) patient in group B. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study showing that long-term mesalazine treatment is significantly better that intermittent mesalazine treatment in preventing occurrence of DD complications after an attack of acute diverticulitis.

Musosal tumour necrosis factor α in diverticular disease of the colon is overexpressed with disease severity.

AIM: Inflammation occurs in diverticular disease (DD), but there is little information on inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α). The aim of this study was to assess TNF-α expression in DD and to see whether it is related to the severity of the disease. METHOD: Twenty-four patients with symptomatic DD were divided into those with acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (AUD) (12 patients) and those with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) (12 patients). Twelve further patients with asymptomatic diverticulosis (AD), six with segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis (SCAD), with ulcerative colitis (UC) and six healthy individuals (HC) were enrolled as controls. TNF-α expression in the colonic mucosa was assessed by the amount of mRNA codifying for the synthesis of TNF-α. RESULTS: TNF-α expression was significantly higher in AUD than in HC (P=0.0007), in AD (P=0.0001) and in SUDD (P=0.0179). It was significantly higher also in SUDD than in HC (P=0.0007) and in AD (P=0.0001). TNF-α expression in AUD did not differ significantly from that in UC (P=0.0678) and SCAD (P=0.0610). It was significantly higher in UC, SCAD and AUD than in SUDD (P=0.0007, P=0.0001, P=0.0179). CONCLUSION: TNF-α expression in DD seems to be related to the severity of the disease. In particular, it appears to be overexpressed in DD with inflammation (AUD and SUDD) compared with DD without (AD).

The prevalence of celiac disease and the appropriateness of the diagnosis in family medicine setting could be lower than expected.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) and the appropriateness of this diagnosis in the family medicine setting in Italy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The electronic databases of 16 general practitioners working in Rome (Italy) were analyzed. The prevalence of CD according to the Italian pathology identification code issued by the Italian National Health System was assessed. In addition, patients registered as having celiac disease without being assigned a pathology identification code were interviewed. RESULTS: Overall, a population of 22,064 patients was analyzed. 91 patients had a diagnosis of CD (0.41%), 60 of whom had a pathology identification code (0.27%), and 31 did not (0.14%). 29 of these patients were interviewed, 16 (17.58% of the CD recorded patients) of whom reported being on a gluten-free or gluten restricted diet, with reported improvement in their clinical symptoms. Half of them further stated that they would not agree to resume a restriction free diet in order to make a definitive CD diagnosis, due to the risk of symptom recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: In a family medicine setting, the prevalence of CD seems to be lower than expected, and one third of patients diagnosed with CD do not fulfill all diagnostic criteria. Any effort to improve the diagnostic work-up for CD should also be made in this setting.

Role of fecal calprotectin in the diagnosis and treatment of segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis.

AIM: Information about fecal calprotectin (FC) in segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis (SCAD) is lacking. We assessed FC in SCAD, comparing it healthy controls (HC), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticular disease (DD), ulcerative colitis (UC). Moreover, we compared FC levels in different degrees of SCAD and assessed FC SCAD before and after treatment. METHODS: Twenty-seven consecutive patients with a new endoscopic diagnosis of SCAD, and 16 patients for each control group, underwent to FC assessment. FC was assessed by semi-quantitative method. RESULTS: FC was not increased in HC and in IBS patients, whilst it was increased in DD, SCAD, and UC. FC concentration was higher in SCAD and UC than in DD (SCAD vs. DD, P=0.05). No difference was found in FC concentration between SCAD and UC (P=0.213), as well as between different degree of SCAD (P= 0.178). After treatment, FC values decreased to normal values in all patients obtaining remission (P<0.0005). Three patients experienced still symptoms (one SCAD type B and two SCAD type D patients), and in all of them FC was still detectable. CONCLUSION: FC may be useful in differentiating SCAD from functional syndromes. Moreover, it may be useful in assessing response to therapy.

Dataset and species aggregation method applied to food-web models in the Northern Ionian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea).

The ecological roles of the species in the food web are studied through the Ecopath with Ecosim modelling approach. In this modelling approach, the food web is described by means of functional groups, each representing a species, a life stage of a species, or a group of species with similar trophic, ecological and physiological features. Links between the groups are formally described by a set of linear equations, informed with ecological and fishing data. Here, the data input collected to implement 3 Ecopath models in the Northern Ionian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) from 1995 to 2015 are reported. This dataset applied to study the ecological roles of the demersal Chondrichthyes in the study area could be useful to explore different fishing management scenarios. A large dataset of over 300 taxa is shown detailing the ecological inputs, such as Biomass (kg km-2), Production and Consumption rates (y-1), Diet information (weight in %), and fishing data represented by Landings and Discards (t km-2 y-1). In particular, the fishery data described the catches of trawls, longlines, passive nets, other gears and purse seine. In addition, a description of the aggregation method of the species is shown.

General practitioners' management of symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon by using rifaximin, a non-adsorbable antibiotic.

OBJECTIVE: Symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon (SUDD) is generally managed by gastroenterologists rather than General Practitioners (GPs). The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the treatment of SUDD with rifaximin, a non-absorbable antibiotic, in a primary care setting by GPs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective, observational study investigated the use of rifaximin at a dose of 400 mg b.i.d. for 5, 7 or 10 days monthly, up to 3 months. The symptoms were reported by the patients using a visual analogic scale (VAS) of 0-10. RESULTS: 286 SUDD patients were enrolled (44.4% of men, average age 70.92±10.98). Respectively, 15 (5.2%) patients received the treatment for 5 days, 205 (71.7%) for 7 days and 66 (23.1%) for 10 days. After three months, a significant reduction of VAS score was observed in almost all symptoms assessed: 135 (47.2%) patients reported no abdominal pain (p<0.001) and 23 (8.1%) reported no symptom. Adverse events related to the treatment were recorded in 3 (1.04%) patients, all of them mild and not requiring interruption of the treatment. Acute diverticulitis occurred in 9 (3.1%) patients, but only 2 of them [0.7% (n=2)] underwent surgery due to complicated diverticulitis. Analysis within the different treatment groups (5, 7 and 10 days) shows that rifaximin treatment is effective in reducing the severity of symptoms in almost all groups except for the constipation in the 5-day group. CONCLUSIONS: Rifaximin can be effectively used by GPs in real-life for the management of SUDD.

Real-life efficacy and safety of Ustekinumab as second- or third-line therapy in Crohn's disease: results from a large Italian cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Ustekinumab (UST) is an anti-IL12/23 antibody for the treatment of Crohn's Disease (CD). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of UST in a large population-based cohort of CD patients who failed previous treatment with other biologics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 194 CD patients (108 males and 86 females, mean age 48 years (range 38-58 years) were retrospectively reviewed. 147 patients were already treated with anti-TNFα (75.8%), and 47 (24.2%) patients were already treated with anti-TNFα and vedolizumab. Concomitant treatment with steroids was present in 177 (91.2%) patients. RESULTS: At week 12, clinical remission was achieved in 146 (75.2%) patients. After a mean follow-up of 6 months, clinical remission was maintained in 135 (69.6%) patients; at that time, mucosal healing was assessed in 62 (31.9%) patients, and it was achieved in 33 (53.2) patients. Three (1.5%) patients were submitted to surgery. Steroid-free remission was achieved in 115 (59.3%) patients. Both serum C-Reactive Protein and Fecal Calprotectin (FC) levels were significantly reduced with respect to baseline levels during follow-up. A logistic regression, UST therapy as third-line therapy (after both anti-TNFα and vedolizumab), FC >200 µg/g, and HBI ≥8 were significantly associated with lack of remission. Adverse events occurred in 5 (2.6%) patients, and four of them required suspension of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: UST seemed to be really effective and safe in CD patients unresponsive to other biologic treatments, especially when used as second-line treatment.

A geo-chemo-mechanical study of a highly polluted marine system (Taranto, Italy) for the enhancement of the conceptual site model.

The paper presents the results of the analysis of the geo-chemo-mechanical data gathered through an innovative multidisciplinary investigation campaign in the Mar Piccolo basin, a heavily polluted marine bay aside the town of Taranto (Southern Italy). The basin is part of an area declared at high environmental risk by the Italian government. The cutting-edge approach to the environmental characterization of the site was promoted by the Special Commissioner for urgent measures of reclamation, environmental improvements and redevelopment of Taranto and involved experts from several research fields, who cooperated to gather a new insight into the origin, distribution, mobility and fate of the contaminants within the basin. The investigation campaign was designed to implement advanced research methodologies and testing strategies. Differently from traditional investigation campaigns, aimed solely at the assessment of the contamination state within sediments lying in the top layers, the new campaign provided an interpretation of the geo-chemo-mechanical properties and state of the sediments forming the deposit at the seafloor. The integrated, multidisciplinary and holistic approach, that considered geotechnical engineering, electrical and electronical engineering, geological, sedimentological, mineralogical, hydraulic engineering, hydrological, chemical, geochemical, biological fields, supported a comprehensive understanding of the influence of the contamination on the hydro-mechanical properties of the sediments, which need to be accounted for in the selection and design of the risk mitigation measures. The findings of the research represent the input ingredients of the conceptual model of the site, premise to model the evolutionary contamination scenarios within the basin, of guidance for the environmental risk management. The study testifies the importance of the cooperative approach among researchers of different fields to fulfil the interpretation of complex polluted eco-systems.

The endoscopic spectrum of segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis.

OBJECTIVE: An endoscopic classification of 'Segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis' (SCAD) is lacking. Our aim was therefore to assess the endoscopic spectrum of SCAD, comparing it with the histological and clinical features. METHOD: A prospective study was performed from January 2004 to October 2007. Diagnosis of SCAD was made on the basis of specific endoscopic and histological patterns. RESULTS: A total of 6230 consecutive colonoscopies were performed during the study period. SCAD was diagnosed in 92 (1.48%) patients, with four endoscopic patterns: pattern A, 'crescentic fold disease' (52.20%); pattern B, 'Mild-to moderate ulcerative colitis-like' pattern (30.40%); pattern C, 'Crohn's disease colitis-like' pattern (10.90%); pattern D, 'Severe ulcerative colitis-like' pattern (6.50%). Most patients with patterns A (58.33%, P < 0.018) and B (89.29%, P < 0.00001) showed histological alterations resembling moderate ulcerative colitis (UC). In pattern C, larger histological variability was found (P < 0.01). All patients showing pattern D showed the typical histological alteration changes of severe UC (P < 0.0001). In pattern A (60.42%, P = n.s.) and pattern B (46.43%, P = n.s.), diarrhoea was the most common symptom whilst abdominal pain was the most frequent in pattern C (50%, P = n.s.) and pattern D (83.33%, P = n.s.) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic patterns of SCAD may range from mild to severe inflammation. The histopathological findings but not clinical features showed a statistically significant association with the degree of endoscopic severity.

Safety and effectiveness of infliximab for inflammatory bowel diseases in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of infliximab (IFX) in clinical practice in three Primary Care, Hospital Centers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From September 2004 to December 2008 62 patients (28 males, 34 females, mean age 30.25 years, range 15-55 years), affected by ulcerative colitis (UC) (23 pts) or by Crohn's disease (CD) (39 patients) were treated. Clinical efficacy, safety, mucosal healing and quality of life were assessed both in UC and CD. RESULTS: A total of 746 infusions were performed. IFX was administered for a mean of 26 months (range 8-44 months). 33/39 (84.61%) pts with CD were in remission under treatment with IFX for a mean time of 19 months (range 12-44 months). Mean Crohn Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score decreased from 295 (range 258-346) to 136 (range 98-136) (p < 0.005). Inflammatory Bowel Disease Quality of Life (IBDQL) improved from 48 (at entry) to 198 (at the end of the study) (p < 0.005). 20/23 (86.95%) patients with UC were in remission under treatment with IFX for a mean of 18 months (range 8-34 months). Mean Disease Activity Index (DAI) decreased from 11 (range 9-12) to < 3 (range 2-3) (p < 0.05). Mean Mayo Subscore for Endoscopy decreased from 3 to < 1 (range 0-1). IBDQL improved from 56 (at entry) to 194 (at the end of the study) (p < 0.005). Only 5 patients (8.06%) experienced side-effects. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term outpatients treatment with IFX seems to be safe and effective in managing patients affected by IBD in clinical practice.

Prevalence of celiac disease and symptoms in relatives of patients with celiac disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We determined the prevalence and clinical features of celiac disease (CD) in family-members (FMs) of a population-based cohort of index cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 108 CD index cases: mean age at diagnosis, 23.0 years (range, 1.5-45.2 years); 81 (75%) female. Three-hundred twelve (mean age, 41.6 years; 219 [70%] female) of FMs were analyzed. 153 (49%) were parents, 24 (7.7%) were children, 69 (22.2%) were siblings, 66 (21.1%) were second degree FMs. RESULTS: CD was diagnosed in 63 subjects (20.1%, 21 males and 42 females, mean age 34.24 years, range 2-81 years). Classic, subclinical, and silent forms of CD were recognized in 18 [28.6% (6 siblings, 6 parents, 3 child, 3 second-degree FMs)], in 27 [45.8% (9 siblings, 3 parent, 15 second-degree FMs)], and in 18 [28.6% (6 siblings, 6 parents, 6 second-degree FMs)] cases, respectively. Most of patients suffering from "classical" (18/63 patients, 28.7%) and "subclinical" (27/63 patients, 42.9%) form of CD were older than patients suffering from "silent " CD (18/63 patients, 28.7%) (p=0.01). Most of patients suffering from subclinical disease showed autoimmune diseases (Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and psoriasis), and other atypical symptoms, as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), were also recorded. CONCLUSIONS: We found an high-prevalence of CD between CD FMs, and most of them were olygo- or asymptomatic.

Low pressure plasma functionalized cellulose fiber for the remediation of petroleum hydrocarbons polluted water.

This work reports the first example of effective purification, at laboratory level, of water polluted by petroleum hydrocarbons, by means of low pressure plasma fluorine grafted cellulose fiber extracted from Spanish Broom. In order to improve the affinity of the cellulosic surface towards water dispersed hydrocarbons, its original hydrophilic character was turned to super-hydrophobic, by a fluorine functionalization. Batch experiments were performed with the aim of studying kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of the adsorption process, as a function of the initial total hydrocarbon load and of the adsorbent amount. The kinetics data showed that the fiber removal efficiency ranged between 80-90% after one minute of contact time, in dependence of the initial hydrocarbon/fiber weight ratio (20-240 mg/g). A maximum adsorption capacity larger than 270 mg/g was estimated by fitting the adsorption isotherm measurements with the Langmuir model. It turned out that the functionalized fiber is capable to perform a significant hydrocarbons removal action if compared to other cellulosic materials reported in the literature. Finally, the efficiency of the plasma modified cellulose fiber, after iterative re-uses, was studied.