IL-1 Superfamily Member (IL-1A, IL-1B and IL-18) Genetic Variants Influence Susceptibility and Clinical Course of Mediterranean Spotter Fever.

Mediterranean Spotted Fever (MSF) is one of the most common spotted fever Rickettsioses. Most cases of MSF follow a benign course, with a minority of cases being fatal. The severity of the infection depends on bacterial virulence, dose and host factors such as effective immune response and genetic background. Herein, we reported data on typing by competitive allele-specific PCR of functionally relevant polymorphisms of genes coding for MyD88 adapter-like (Mal/TIRAP) protein (rs8177374), interleukin(IL)-1 cluster (IL-1A rs1800587, IL-1B rs16944 and rs1143634) and IL-18 (rs187238), which might be crucial for an efficient immune response. The results enlighten the role that IL-1 gene cluster variants might play in susceptibility against Rickettsia conorii infection. In particular, the IL-1A rs1800587TT genotype was significantly increased in patients alone and combined in a haplotype composed by minor alleles rs1800587T, rs16944A and rs1143634A. This result was confirmed using the decision tree heuristic approach. Using this methodology, IL-1A rs1800587TT genotype was the better discrimination key among MSF patients and controls. In addition, the IL-1 gene cluster SNP genotypes containing minor alleles and IL-18 rs187238G positive genotypes were found as associated with risk of severe complications such as sepsis, septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome and coma. In conclusion, these data suggest that the evaluation of IL-1A, IL-1B and IL-18 gene SNPs can add useful information on the clinical course of patients affected by Mediterranean Spotted Fever, even if further confirmatory studies will be necessary.

Social robots and therapeutic adherence: A new challenge in pediatric asthma?

Social Robots are used in different contexts and, in healthcare, they are better known as Socially Assistive Robots. In the context of asthma, the use of Socially Assistive Robots has the potential to increase motivation and engagement to treatment. Other positive roles proposed for Socially Assistive Robots are to provide education, training regarding treatments, and feedback to patients. This review evaluates emerging interventions for improving treatment adherence in pediatric asthma, focusing on the possible future role of social robots in the clinical practice.

A new species of Isohypsibiid (Eutardigrada) from Sicily.

Dastych (2016) analysed the holotype of Isohypsibius tetradactyloides (Richters, 1907) and noticed that it possesses a very faint cuticular sculpture. For this and other characters, Dastych considered the species to be a synonym of Isohypsibius asper (Murray, 1906). The authors re-examined specimens attributed to Isohypsibius tetradactyloides by Pilato (1971) from two Sicilian rivers, and noticed that they cannot be attributed to Isohypsibius asper but to a new species. This new species belongs to the I. asper group, and is described here as Isohypsibius occultus sp. nov.. As the very faint cuticular ornamentation can be difficult to observe, the authors compared the new species with species having smooth cuticle or ornamented cuticle. Species with cuticular gibbosities or annulations, or clearly different in other characters, i.e. those with only two macroplacoids, the presence of a septulum, and cuticular bars on the legs, were excluded from comparison.

A new species of Eutardigrade (Macrobiotidae) from New Zealand.

After examining the tardigrade specimens collected in New Zealand and attributed by Tumanov (2004) to Macrobiotus cf. coronatus, the authors considered it justifiable to describe for them a new species named Mesobiotus helenae. It is very similar to Mesobiotus pseudoblocki Roszkowska, Stec, Ciobanu Kaczmarek, 2016 but differs in lacking eyes, having differently shaped claws (the terminal portion of both claw branches are longer and more slender), and similar egg processes but not identically shaped, with almost invisible ornamentation on the basal portion.

Meplitumenaluna gen. nov., sp. nov. an interesting eutardigrade (Hypsibiidae, Itaquasconinae) from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

A new genus of Itaquasconinae, Meplitumen gen. nov., and a new species, Meplitumenaluna sp. nov., are described. The new genus has characters present in other genera of Itaquasconinae but in a unique combination. The spiral thickening of the bucco-pharyngeal tube is also present anteriorly to the insertion point of the stylet supports, excluding only the short portion where the apophyses for the insertion of the stylet muscles (AISM) are present. This character is similar to Astatumen Pilato, 1997 but Meplitumen gen. nov. differs from this genus as stylet furcae are shaped differently and as stylet supports and placoids are present. The presence of a spiral thickening in a portion of the buccal tube anterior to the stylet supports distinguishes the new genus from Mesocrista Pilato, 1987, Platicrista Pilato, 1987 and Itaquascon de Barros, 1939. Meplitumen gen. nov. also differs from Mesocrista, in having the caudal processes of the AISM pointing laterally (instead of postero-laterally), and the apices of the caudal processes of the stylet furcae unswollen. From Itaquascon the new genus also differs by having more robust stylet supports, pharyngeal bulb with placoids, stylet furcae differently shaped. Meplitumen gen. nov. also differs from Platicrista in having caudal processes of the AISM more robust and not flexible, and more slender stylet supports. The new species, Meplitumenaluna sp. nov., has a cuticle with a very faint roughness at the caudal extremity of the body, and eyes probably absent. The pharyngeal bulb is long, with two long, narrow, rod-shaped macroplacoids; a microplacoid and septulum are absent. The claws are well developed with main branches provided with accessory points, and at the base of the claws, a structure interpretable as a very thin lunule is present. Other cuticular thickenings on the legs are absent.

Macrobiotus nebrodensis and Adropion vexatum, two new species of Eutardigrada (Tardigrada, Parachela) from Sicily.

Two new species of Eutardigrada are described from Sicily: Macrobiotus nebrodensis sp. nov. and Adropion vexatum sp. nov. The former species, belongs to the Macrobiotus hufelandi group, and is characterised by having a small, faint, microplacoid, and variable egg processes (most processes are shaped in the form of an inverted goblet with jagged terminal disc, but others are long, or very long, with a very small terminal disc). Adropion vexatum sp. nov. is characterised by having smooth cuticle, steep, vertical front to the head, pharyngeal tube longer than the pharyngeal bulb, which has small apophyses and three rod-shaped macroplacoids (microplacoid and septulum absent); long placoid row, about half the length of the pharyngeal bulb; main branches of claws with accessory points; lunules and other cuticular thickenings absent on the legs (small dots excluded).

Two new species of Milnesium (Tardigrada: Milnesiidae).

Two new species of Milnesium are described: Milnesium vorax sp. nov from Sicily and Milnesium tumanovi sp. nov. from Crimea. Milnesium vorax sp. nov. is uncoloured, with eye spots, smooth cuticle, wide buccal tube, stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube at almost 62 % of its length; claws with configuration [2-3]-[3-2]; accessory points present on the main branches. Milnesium tumanovi sp. nov. is also uncoloured, has eye spots, smooth cuticle, and wide buccal tube, but it has the stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube at about 52 % of its length, and claws with configuration [3-3]-[3-3]; the accessory points are present on the main branches.

Eremobiotus ginevrae sp. nov. and Paramacrobiotus pius sp. nov., two new species of Eutardigrada.

Two new eutardigrade species are described: Eremobiotus ginevrae sp. nov. and Paramacrobiotus pius sp. nov. The first is similar to Eremobiotus alicatai (Binda, 1969) but differs in the claw shape and dimensions. It has been found in Sicily, Israel and Russia. The second species, belonging to the richtersi group, is currently found exclusively in Sicily. It has a smooth cuticle, three macroplacoids and a microplacoid, eggs with reticulated trunco-conical processes with small terminal thorns; the egg-shell is areolated and the areolae are clearly sculptured.

Milnesium minutum and Milnesium sandrae, two new species of Milnesiidae (Tardigrada, Eutardigrada, Apochela).

Two new species of Milnesium are described, Milnesium minutum sp. n. from Sicily and Milnesium sandrae sp. n. from the Hawaiian Archipelago. The body size of Milnesium minutum is the smallest of the known species of the genus. The stylet supports are inserted on the buccal tube at 63-66% of its length and the claws have a [3-3]-[3-3] configuration. Milnesium sandrae has stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube at 58-60.5% of its length, a [3-3]-[3-3] claw configuration, and the percent ratio between the secondary claw and primary claw length on legs I-III (78.6%-85.5%) clearly higher than on legs IV (70.5%-71.4%). With the description of these two new species, the number of species in the genus is increased to 31.

Two new freshwater eutardigrade species from Sicily.

Two new species of freshwater Eutardigrada are described from Sicily: Isohypsibius rusticus sp. nov. and Isohypsibius zappalai sp. nov. The former species has eye spots, ornamented body surface with many, variously sized tubercles; bucco-pharyngeal apparatus of the Isohypsibius type; pharyngeal bulb with apophyses and two rod-shaped macroplacoids; microplacoid absent; claws, of the Isohypsibius type, well developed, with long and thin common basal portion; main branches of all claws without free accessory points; very thin lunules present; cuticular bars on the legs absent. Isohypsibius zappalai sp. nov. has eye spots; entire body surface with small tubercles rounded in shape, fairly uniformly sized and tending to form transverse lines; bucco-pharyngeal apparatus of the Isohypsibius type, pharyngeal bulb with apophyses and two macroplacoids; microplacoid absent; claws of the Isohypsibius type, well developed, with long common basal portion and both main and secondary branches with a wide proximal portion. Main branches of all claws with accessory points; small, flexible lunules present; cuticular bars on the legs absent.

Two new tardigrade species from Sicily.

Two new species of tardigrades are described from Sicilian moss samples: Macrobiotus insuetus sp. nov. and Diphascon (Diphascon) procerum sp. nov.        Macrobiotus insuetus sp. nov. is a species of the harmsworthi-group characterized by both posterior and anterior claws of the hind legs, which are different in shape from those of the first three leg pairs. The IV claws have extended basal tract where the branches are joined and the secondary branch breaks at near right angle to the primary branch and is clearly shorter than the main branch and the secondary branch of claws I-III. The eggs are not areolated and have conical processes with a reticular ornamentation.        Diphascon (D.) procerum sp. nov. has a delicate cuticular ornamentation of very small tubercles, almost dots; two macroplacoids and septulum are present; thin accessory points are present on the main branches of the slender claws; lunules are absent but the base of the external claws of the hind legs are enlarged and slightly indented; a cuticular bar is present near the internal claw of the first three leg pairs and two cuticular bars are present on the hind legs between the base of the claws and near the base of the anterior claw. 

An exceptional event during the moulting process of an eutardigrade: two bucco-pharyngeal apparatuses present.

A specimen of Diphascon (Diphascon) procerum with two bucco-pharyngeal apparatuses (one of which should have been expelled during moulting process) is described, and that anomalous condition is discussed.

Mixibius parvus sp. nov. and Diphascon (Diphascon) ziliense sp. nov., two new species of Eutardigrada from Sicily.

Two new species, Mixibius parvus sp. nov. and Diphascon (Diphascon) ziliense sp. nov. are described from Sicily. Mixibius parvus sp. nov. has three macroplacoids and a microplacoid and differs from M. tibetanus, the only other known species of the genus with those characteristics, in having a wrinkled cuticle without true small tubercles, a shorter microplacoid, smaller claw pt index values, and in lacking a cuticular bar on the first three pairs of the legs.Diphascon (Diphascon) ziliense sp. nov. lacks eye spots, has a pharyngeal bulb with two macroplacoids and a septulum, and possesses lunules and cuticular bars on the legs. It is similar to D. (D.) ramazzottii and D. (D.) procerum but differs from them in characters of the cuticular ornamentation and, in addition, from D. (D.) ramazzottii in having lunules and slightly longer claws in proportion to the body size and to the buccal tube. The new species differs from D. (D.) procerum in having stouter claws with a wider common portion and with the main branches shorter in proportion to the total length of the respective claws.

Ramazzottius thulini (Pilato, 1970) bona species and description of Ramazzottius libycus sp. nov. (Eutardigrada, Ramazzottidae).

Comparing the type series of Ramazzottius thulini with specimens of Ramazzottius oberhaeuseri, from the locus typicus, we confirmed there are morphological and metric differences between these two species. This evidence convinced us that R. thulini should be considered a bona species. A new species, Ramazzottius libycus sp. nov., is also described. Ramazzottius libycus sp. nov. differs from R. oberhaeuseri in having more slender internal claws I-III and anterior claws IV, and other metric differences relative to all claws. The new species differs from R. thulini in details of the cuticular ornamentation, stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube in a slightly more caudal position, internal claws slightly different in shape, and some metric differences relative to all claws. It appears R. thulini and R. libycus sp. nov. are sibling species of R. oberhaeuseri and therefore the authors expect that there are other cryptic species included under the R. oberhaeuseri name still awaiting to be recognized and described.

The problem of the origin of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in vertebrates: historical review and a possible solution.

A concise review of the articles about the origin of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in vertebrates is provided. Differences among various taxa concerning the origin of PGCs, not easily understandable on the base of traditional knowledge, are pointed out. All those differences can be explained taking into consideration the recent “theory of the endoderm as secondary layer”. That theory allows us to understand that those differences are only apparent, being related to modifications of stages of the consequent embryogeny, overall, to a different amount of yolk in the egg. Eggs very rich in yolk became meroblastic, and the portion of primordial ectomesenchyme destined to give rise to a part of the mesoderm and the PGCs separates early from the part destined to give rise to the rest of the mesoderm and to the digestive endoderm in order to form the vitelline hypoblast lamina. To this lamina, in contrast to the traditional interpretation, a mesodermal, not endodermal, origin must be attributed. With the misunderstanding regarding the origin of this lamina clarified, all the differences about the origin of PGCs disappears. Furthermore, in taxa where PGCs were considered to be of endodermal origin, they too have a mesodermal origin. Considering that a mesodermal origin of PGCs has been demonstrated in all sponges and cnidarians, as well, a unique, mesodermal origin of germinal cells in all pluricellular animals results.

A new tardigrade Doryphoribius maasaimarensis sp. nov. (Eutardigrada: Hypsibiidae) from Kenya.

A new tardigrade, Doryphoribius maasaimarensis sp. nov., is described from a moss sample collected in Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya. The new species is characterized by having a reticulate dorsal cuticle with small tubercles; nine transverse rows of dorsal gibbosities (configuration IX:4-6-4-6-4-6-4-4-2); pharyngeal bulb with two macroplacoids and no microplacoid; claws with short and thin accessory points; small, smooth lunules under the claws. The new species is most similar to Doryphoribius zyxiglobus (Horning, Schuster & Grigarick, 1978). Both exhibit two macroplacoids, similar cuticular pattern and the same configuration of gibbosities. However, in Doryphoribius maasaimarensis sp. nov. the cuticular tubercles are less close, buccal tube slightly longer with respect to the body length, more gradual curvature of the buccal tube, different claws shape and thinner accessory points.

The taxonomic value of the structures for the insertion of the stylet muscles in the Eutardigrada, and description of a new genus.

The new genus Dastychius has been instituted for the species Isohypsibius improvisus Dastych, 1984. It has claws of the Isohypsibius type, rigid buccal tube without ventral lamina and with ridge-shaped apophyses for the insertion of the stylet muscles; peribuccal lamellae absent; peribuccal papulae seem to be present but the datum should be confirmed; pharyngeal bulb with apophyses and placoids, lunules present in the known species; smooth eggs laid in the exuvium. The apophyses for the insertion of the stylet muscles have some peculiarities that justify the institution of a new genus. They are long, uninterrupted ridges tailing off caudally almost reaching the stylet supports; at almost a quarter of their length they have an incision and a septum never noted in other genera of Eutardigrada. In the author's opinion it is possible to hypothesize that all the structures for the insertion of the stylet muscles recognizable in the Eutardigrada may be derived from long ridge-shaped apophyses (but without incision and septum). The comparison of the shape of the apophyses for the insertion of the stylet muscles in the Eutardigrada seems to indicate that this character has taxonomic value at level of genus but not at family level.

An exaggerated systolic blood pressure response to exercise is associated with cardiovascular remodeling in subjects with prehypertension.

BACKGROUND: Although many observers consider the cardiovascular risk associated with isolated prehypertension to be low and not worth pharmacological treating, the cardiovascular disease rate is increased among individuals within this blood pressure stratum. METHODS: We performed Doppler echocardiography and submaximal bicycle ergometry in 20 nonsmoking sedentary prehypertensive subjects and 20 age- and sex-matched nonsmoking sedentary normotensive subjects, and investigated the association between the systolic blood pressure response to exercise (SBPRE) and hypertensive target organ damage. An exaggerated SBPRE (E-SBPRE) and a normal SBPRE (N-SBPRE) were diagnosed using the mean +2 standard deviations of systolic blood pressure at 100 W in normotensives. RESULTS: Body mass index was similar in the two groups. Resting blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance were higher in prehypertensives. Almost half the latter had an E-SBPRE. There were no differences in age, gender, and body mass index between normotensives and prehypertensives with an E-SBPRE or a N-SBPRE. Resting blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance were similarly increased in prehypertensives with an E-SBPRE and a N-SBPRE vs normotensives. Compared with normotensives, prehypertensives with an E-SBPRE showed: (a) a significantly greater left ventricular relative wall thickness, mostly due to a smaller cavity, (b) a significantly longer left ventricular isovolumic relaxation time, and (c) a significantly greater global arterial stiffness, as estimated by the pulse pressure/left ventricular stroke volume ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that an E-SBPRE is frequent among prehypertensive subjects and is associated with cardiovascular remodeling, which may herald cardiovascular disease.