Disturbance of primary producer communities disrupts the thermal limits of the associated aquatic fauna.

Environmental fluctuation forms a framework of variability within which species have evolved. Environmental fluctuation includes predictability, such as diel cycles of aquatic oxygen fluctuation driven by primary producers. Oxygen availability and fluctuation shape the physiological responses of aquatic animals to warming, so that, in theory, oxygen fluctuation could influence their thermal ecology. We describe annual oxygen variability in agricultural drainage channels and show that disruption of oxygen fluctuation through dredging of plants reduces the thermal tolerance of freshwater animals. We compared the temperature responses of snails, amphipods, leeches and mussels exposed to either natural oxygen fluctuation or constant oxygen in situ under different acclimation periods. Oxygen saturation in channel water ranged from c. 0 % saturation at night to >300 % during the day. Temperature showed normal seasonal variation and was almost synchronous with daily oxygen fluctuation. A dredging event in 2020 dramatically reduced dissolved oxygen variability and the correlation between oxygen and temperature was lost. The tolerance of invertebrates to thermal stress was significantly lower when natural fluctuation in oxygen availability was reduced and decoupled from temperature. This highlights the importance of natural cycles of variability and the need to include finer scale effects, including indirect biological effects, in modelling the ecosystem-level consequences of climate change. Furthermore, restoration and management of primary producers in aquatic habitats could be important to improve the thermal protection of aquatic invertebrates and their resistance to environmental variation imposed by climate change.

Contrasting Effects of Local Environmental and Biogeographic Factors on the Composition and Structure of Bacterial Communities in Arid Monospecific Mangrove Soils.

Mangrove forests are important biotic sinks of atmospheric CO2 and play an integral role in nutrient-cycling and decontamination of coastal waters, thereby mitigating climatic and anthropogenic stressors. These services are primarily regulated by the activity of the soil microbiome. To understand how environmental changes may affect this vital part of the ecosystem, it is key to understand the patterns that drive microbial community assembly in mangrove forest soils. High-throughput amplicon sequencing (16S rRNA) was applied on samples from arid Avicennia marina forests across different spatial scales from local to regional. Alongside conventional analyses of community ecology, microbial co-occurrence networks were assessed to investigate differences in composition and structure of the bacterial community. The bacterial community composition varied more strongly along an intertidal gradient within each mangrove forest, than between forests in different geographic regions (Australia/Saudi Arabia). In contrast, co-occurrence networks differed primarily between geographic regions, illustrating that the structure of the bacterial community is not necessarily linked to its composition. The local diversity in mangrove forest soils may have important implications for the quantification of biogeochemical processes and is important to consider when planning restoration activities. IMPORTANCE Mangrove ecosystems are increasingly being recognized for their potential to sequester atmospheric carbon, thereby mitigating the effects of anthropogenically driven greenhouse gas emissions. The bacterial community in the soils plays an important role in the breakdown and recycling of carbon and other nutrients. To assess and predict changes in carbon storage, it is important to understand how the bacterial community is shaped by its environment. Here, we compared the bacterial communities of mangrove forests on different spatial scales, from local within-forest to biogeographic comparisons. The bacterial community composition differed more between distinct intertidal zones of the same forest than between forests in distant geographic regions. The calculated network structure of theoretically interacting bacteria, however, differed most between the geographic regions. Our findings highlight the importance of local environmental factors in shaping the microbial soil community in mangroves and highlight a disconnect between community composition and structure in microbial soil assemblages.

Diel oxygen fluctuation drives the thermal response and metabolic performance of coastal marine ectotherms.

Coastal marine systems are characterized by high levels of primary production that result in diel oxygen fluctuations from undersaturation to supersaturation. Constant normoxia, or 100% oxygen saturation, is therefore rare. Since the thermal sensitivity of invertebrates is directly linked to oxygen availability, we hypothesized that (i) the metabolic response of coastal marine invertebrates would be more sensitive to thermal stress when exposed to oxygen supersaturation rather than 100% oxygen saturation and (ii) natural diel fluctuation in oxygen availability rather than constant 100% oxygen saturation is a main driver of the thermal response. We tested the effects of oxygen regime on the metabolic rate, and haemocyanin and lactate levels, of velvet crabs (Necora puber) and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), under rising temperatures (up to 24°C) in the laboratory. Oxygen supersaturation and photosynthetically induced diel oxygen fluctuation amplified animal metabolic thermal response significantly in both species, demonstrating that the natural variability of oxygen in coastal environments can provide considerable physiological benefits under ocean warming. Our study highlights the significance of integrating ecologically relevant oxygen variability into experimental assessments of animal physiology and thermal response, and predictions of metabolic performance under climate warming. Given the escalating intensity and frequency of climate anomalies, oxygen variation caused by coastal vegetation will likely become increasingly important in mitigating the effects of higher temperatures on coastal fauna.

Island organization of TiO2 hierarchical nanostructures induced by surface wetting and drying.

We report on the reorganization and bundling of titanium oxide nanostructured layers, induced by wetting with different solvents and subsequent drying. TiO(2) layers are deposited by pulsed laser deposition and are characterized by vertically oriented, columnar-like structures resulting from assembling of nanosized particles; capillary forces acting during evaporation induce bundling of these structures and lead to a micrometer-size patterning with statistically uniform islands separated by channels. The resulting surface is characterized by a hierarchical, multiscale morphology over the nanometer-micrometer length range. The structural features of the pattern, i.e., characteristic length, island size, and channel width, are shown to depend on properties of the liquid (i.e., surface tension) and thickness and density of the TiO(2) layers. The studied phenomenon permits the controlled production of multiscale hierarchically patterned surfaces of nanostructured TiO(2) with large porosity and large surface area, characterized by superhydrophilic wetting behavior without need for UV irradiation.

Insights into infectious otitis media.

Otitis media is a multifactorial disease. It represents a major public health burden, as it is the most common diagnosis in children and is characterized by both immediate and long-term morbidity. For years the knowledge about risk factors and microbiology of otitis media has been relatively stable. In recent years new data have been gathered regarding different microbiological aspects of otitis media. This new knowledge may contribute toward the development and implementation of therapeutic and preventive strategies.

Paranasal sinuses and middle ear infections: what do they have in common?

Otitis media and sinusitis are among the most common pediatric diseases and they share common features. Although the anatomy, physiology and disease processes are not identical, knowledge of the pathophysiology of middle ear disorders often provides to the pediatrician a useful understanding of sinus diseases. The same risk factors identified for otitis media may play a pivotal role in the development of sinusitis. Moreover, as both paranasal sinuses and middle ear acquire respiratory pathogens from nasopharynx, acute sinusitis is usually caused by the same bacterial pathogens that cause acute otitis media, with a major role for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis, while anaerobes may predominate in chronic disease. A responsibility of bacterial biofilms in chronic sinusitis, similarly to otitis media, has been recently suggested. Biofilms, three-dimensional aggregates of bacteria, are refractory to antibiotics and thus might explain why some patients improve while on antibiotics but relapse after completion of therapy.

Radiofrequency ablation of primary and metastatic lung tumors: preliminary experience with a single center device.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and short-term results for percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of primary and secondary lung tumors. METHODS: Between May 2003 and July 2004, 15 patients (mean age, 64.9 years; range, 51-80 years) with 18 pulmonary lesions (9 primitive non-small cell lung cancers and 9 metastases) underwent the ablation procedure. All the patients had absolute contraindications to the surgery. The procedure was performed under computed tomography (CT) guidance with anesthesiologic assistance using a coaxial Le Veen needle electrode. The results were evaluated by postprocedural CT scan, and then by clinical and laboratory examination and CT scan 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the treatment. RESULTS: A complete ablation was obtained for 16 of 18 lesions (88.9%), and a partial ablation was achieved for the remaining 2 lesions (central tumors). In terms of complications, there were five cases of pneumothorax (2 resolved spontaneously and 3 were drained through a coaxial needle), four middle pleural reactions, and one hemothorax that required draining surgically. Follow-up evaluation was performed for 16 of 18 lesions. Stability was observed in one of two central tumors that received partial ablation. The remaining 15 tumors that received a complete ablation were followed up for a mean of 5 months (range, 1-12 months). All 15 lesions appeared to be hypodense at the CT examination. Dimension reduction with progressive fibrotic scar formation was observed in seven of seven lesions during a follow-up period of 6 months or more. A recurrence at the site of the treatment for two of three lesions was observed during a 12-month follow-up period. One of these received a second radiofrequency ablation. Five patients experienced systemic disease progression. In four of these five patients, this progression was not associated with recurrence at the site of the treatment. CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency ablation seems to be possible for "nonsurgical" patients with primary and secondary lung tumors. Good results in terms of local tumor control were observed during short-term follow-up evaluation.

Intraoperative radiofrequency ablation: intraductal cooling of the main bile ducts for the prevention of heat damage. A case report.

Intraoperative radiofrequency (RF) ablation has recently become a valid procedure in the treatment of liver primary or secondary malignancies in selected cases. This procedure can be used alone or in association with surgery in treating lesions not considered for curative surgery. Heat damage of the main bile ducts represents nowadays a limitation in the use of radiofrequency ablation of hepatic lesions. Up to now, in tumors proximal to a main bile duct or to the biliary bifurcation this procedure has been contraindicated. In order to preserve these structures from heat damage, a new technique consisting of intraductal cooling of the bile ducts has recently been introduced. We report a case of successful experience with this technique.

Effect of two different combinations of antiretrovirals (AZT+ddI and AZT+3TC) on cytokine production and apoptosis in asymptomatic HIV infection.

Nineteen HIV-seropositive antiretroviral therapy-naive and asymptomatic individuals (200-500 CD4/microl) were enrolled in a prospective study aimed at analyzing the immunologic and virologic effects of two different combinations of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (AZT+ddI and AZT+3TC), and randomly assigned to one of the treatment group. Immunologic (CD4 and CD8 counts, mitogen-stimulated cytokine production, unstimulated and mitogen-stimulated apoptosis) and virologic (HIV viral load) determinations were performed pre-therapy and 15, 30, 90, 200 and 360 days after initiation of therapy. Results showed that the two combinations had comparable effects on increasing CD4 counts and the CD4/CD8 ratio and in reducing HIV viral load. In contrast, AZT+3TC was more efficient in improving interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon gamma (IFNgamma) production as well as the type 1/type 2 cytokine ratio and in down modulating the susceptibility of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to in vitro mitogen-stimulated apoptotic cell death. These data suggest that the combination of AZT+3TC has a stronger effect on potentially beneficial immune parameters (IL-2 production; reduction of apoptosis) than the one between AZT+ddI. The combination of AZT+3TC could be more advantageous in the therapy of HIV infection even when used in association with a protease inhibitor.

Augmented type 1 cytokines and human endogenous retroviruses specific immune responses in patients with acute multiple sclerosis.

In vitro antigen- and mitogen-stimulated cytokine production were analysed in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with either acute (AMS) or stable (SMS) disease and in healthy controls (HC). We also investigated whether immune responses to human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) could be detected in MS and whether these immune responses would be correlated with disease status by analysing cytokine production after stimulation of PBMC with HERV peptides. Results showed that mitogen-stimulated IL-2 and IFN-gamma was augmented and IL-10 was decreased in AMS compared to both SMS and healthy controls. Whereas the production of the metabolically active IL-12 (p70 heterodimer), was comparable in SMS, AMS and HC, production of the total IL-12 (p70 heterodimer and the p40 chain) were augmented in SMS compared to both AMS and HC. HERV-peptides IL-2 and IFN-gamma production was more frequent and more potent in AMS compared to both SMS patients and HC. HERV-specific type 2 cytokine production was more frequent and potent in SMS compared to AMS and HC. Thus a prevalent type 1 cytokine profile was seen in AMS patients, while IL-10 production predominated in SMS individuals.

Study of immunological and virological parameters during thalidomide treatment of SIV-infected cynomolgus monkeys.

The potential therapeutic utility of thalidomide (Thd), an effective inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in vitro, was investigated in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) at 10 months after infection with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Thd-treated macaques (n = 8) received an oral dose (10 mg) daily for 7 days, followed by a wash-out period of 5 weeks. A 2nd cycle of treatment was performed on the same animals at higher doses (20 mg Thd/day) for 14 days. The control monkeys (n = 7) received a placebo for the same period of time. In the present study, we show that Thd, in addition to inhibiting TNF-alpha production after in vitro mitogen stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), was able to restore the proliferative responses to SIV peptides in monkeys that were infected with SIV. Interestingly, we found that such effects are associated with an increased expression of CD28 cell surface receptors on CD4+ T-cells paralleled by a decrease on CD8+ T-cells. At the same time, significant reduction in either cell-associated viral load or plasma viral RNA was not observed among the SIV-infected monkeys during the two treatment cycles, when compared with the placebo group.

Immune responses to antigens of human endogenous retroviruses in patients with acute or stable multiple sclerosis.

A possible role for human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) in the pathogenesis of MS was investigated by analyzing HERV peptides-stimulated proliferation and cytokine production in MS patients with acute (AMS) or stable (SMS) disease. HERV peptides specific-proliferation and type 1 cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was observed in AMS but not in SMS individuals, in whom a type 2 cytokine profile dominates. HERV peptides-stimulated immune responses were modified by changes in disease expression; mediated by CD4+ T lymphocytes; and not related to HLA class II molecules. These data suggest the possibility of a pathogenic role for HERV and HERV-specific immune responses in MS.

Altered signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) expression in HIV infection and redirection of HIV-specific responses via SLAM triggering.

Signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) is a transmembrane lymphocytic receptor which gets rapidly upregulated following cell activation. SLAM engagement augments T cell expansion and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production independently of CD28. SLAM signaling is regulated by the SLAM-associated protein. We evaluated the expression and function of SLAM on CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes in HIV-infected individuals with either recently acquired infection (Group A) or asymptomatic HIV infection (Group B) and in healthy controls (HC). Soluble antigen (HIV env peptides and tetanus toxoid)- and mitogen-stimulated proliferation and IFN-gamma and IL-10 production upon SLAM costimulation were also measured. Results showed that: (1) SLAM-expressing CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes diminish in group A patients compared to both group B patients and HC; (2) SLAM expression on CD4(+) lymphocytes is preferentially associated with the lack of CD7 on cell surface (CD4(+)CD7(-) produce IL-10 but not IFN-gamma); (3) SLAM engagement increases HIV env peptide-stimulated, but neither tetanus toxoid- nor PHA-stimulated proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in patients but not in HC; and (4) SLAM engagement augments IFN-gamma and reduces IL-10 production by env peptide-stimulated PBMC of HIV-infected individuals. These results demonstrate that early HIV infection results in an altered SLAM expression which correlates with a time-limited impairment of cell-mediated immunity. Furthermore, they show that triggering via SLAM potentiates HIV-specific proliferative responses with simultaneous downregulation of IL-10 and redirection of the response to TH0/TH1.

Intractable pruritus in HIV infection: immunologic characterization.

BACKGROUND: Severe, intractable pruritus, often associated with erythematopapular skin lesions and hypereosinophilia, is a condition observed in some nonatopic, HIV-infected patients. We performed immunovirologic analyses of this condition. METHODS: Immunologic (mitogen-stimulated production of cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha], and soluble CD23; serum levels of soluble CD23, ICAM-1, TNF-alpha, IgG, IgE, and IgA) and virologic (HIV viral load) parameters were analyzed in six patients with therapy-resistant pruritus. Hypereosinophilia was present in all these patients. Results were compared to those of seven HIV-seropositive individuals similar to the first one in terms of CD4 counts and clinical staging, but without pruritus. RESULTS: Hypereosinophilia; hyper-IgE and hyper-IgA; augmented interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and sCD23; and reduced interferon-gamma production by mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were detected when patients with pruritus were compared to HIV controls. HIV viral load was also augmented in patients in whom pruritus was present. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that therapy-resistant, intractable pruritus accompanied by hypereosinophilia may be used to define a subset of HIV-seropositive individuals showing prototypic hyperactivation of humoral immunity, and in whom augmented HIV viral load is present.

Cytokine production and surface marker expression in acute and stable multiple sclerosis: altered IL-12 production and augmented signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM)-expressing lymphocytes in acute multiple sclerosis.

Ag-stimulated IL-2 production and mitogen-stimulated type 1 and type 2 cytokine production by PBMC, as well as expression of Th1- and Th2-associated phenotypical markers, of B7-1, B7-2, and CD95 (Fas) on the surface of immune cells, and the serum concentration of soluble Apo-1/Fas were evaluated in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with either acute (AMS) or stable (SMS) disease and in healthy controls (HC). Results showed that 1) Ag-stimulated IL-2 production is reduced in MS patients compared with that in HC; 2) mitogen-stimulated type 1 cytokine production is increased, and IL-10 production is reduced in MS patients compared with those in HC, and in AMS patients compared with those in SMS; 3) whereas production of the metabolically active p70 heterodimers is comparable in SMS, AMS, and HC, production of the p70 heterodimer and the p40 chains (total IL-12) is increased in SMS compared with that in AMS and HC; 4) CD4+, CD4+ SLAM+, and CD4+ CD7+ lymphocytes (preferentially type 1 cytokine-producing lymphocytes) are increased in MS compared with levels in HC; 5) B7-2- as well as Fas+-expressing monocytes are augmented in MS compared with those in HC, and serum soluble Apo-1/Fas is augmented in AMS compared with SMS and HC. These results confirm that a complex imbalance in both cytokine production and the Fas system is present in MS and indicate that different cytokine profiles may be observed in patients with acute or stable disease. The data also suggest that peculiar phenotypic populations are over-represented in MS patients, and for the first time show that SLAM expression is correlated with dysregulation of type 1 and type 2 cytokine production in human pathology.

HIV-specific mucosal and cellular immunity in HIV-seronegative partners of HIV-seropositive individuals.

HIV-specific mucosal and cellular immunity was analyzed in heterosexual couples discordant for HIV status in serum and in HIV-unexposed controls. HIV-specific IgA but not IgG was present in urine and vaginal wash samples from HIV-exposed seronegative individuals (ESN), whereas both IgA and IgG were observed in their HIV-seropositive partners; antibodies were not detected in low-risk controls. Envelope protein (Env) peptide-stimulated interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was detected in 9 out of 16 ESNs, 5 out of 16 HIV-infected patients and 1 out of 50 controls. Env peptide-stimulated PBMCs of ESNs produced more IL-2 and less IL-10 compared with those of HIV-infected individuals; no differences were observed in chemokine production or in CCR5 expression. These data demonstrate that a compartmentalized immune response to pathogens is possible in humans and raise the possibility of protective roles for cell-mediated immunity and mucosal IgA in HIV-seronegative individuals exposed to HIV.

[Craniosynostosis: is a prenatal diagnosis possible?]. / Craniosinostosi: è possibile una diagnosi prenatale?

The Authors give an account of a case in which a newborn was affected by craniosynostosis of the sagittal suture. The ultrasonographic biometric measurements of cranium taken during the course of fetal development, when compared with those of the trunk and limbs, led the Authors to suspect the correct diagnosis even before birth; this permitted the immediate planning of therapeutic conduct.