Effective bioremediation of clarithromycin and diclofenac in wastewater by microbes and Arundo donax L.

Bioremediation of pharmaceuticals has gained large research efforts, but there is still a need to improve the performance of bioremediation systems by selecting effective organisms. In this study, we characterized the capability to remove clarithromycin (CLA) and diclofenac (DCF) by the bacterium Streptomyces rochei, and the fungi Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trametes versicolor. The macrolide antibiotic CLA and the non-steroid anti-inflammatory DCF were selected because these are two of the most frequently detected drugs in water bodies. Growth and content of the PhCs and a DCF metabolite (MET) by the energy crop Arundo donax L. were also evaluated under hydroponic conditions. The removal rate (RR) by S. rochei increased from 24 to 40% at 10 and 100 µg CLA L-1, respectively, averaged over incubation times. At 144 h, the RR by P. chrysosporium was 84%, while by T. versicolor was 70 and 45% at 10 and 100 CLA µg L-1. The RR by S. rochei did not exceed 30% at 1 mg DCF L-1 and reached 60% at 10 mg DCF L-1, whereas approached 95% and 63% by P. chrysosporium and T. versicolor, respectively, at both doses. Root biomass and length of A. donax were strongly affected at 100 µg CLA L-1. CLA concentration in roots and shoots increased with the increase of the dose and translocation factor (TF) was about 1. DCF severely affected both shoot fresh weight and root length at the highest dose and concentration in roots and shoots increased with the increase of the dose. DCF concentrations were 16-19 times higher in roots than in shoots, and TF was about 0.1. MET was detected only in roots and its proportion over the parent compound decreased with the increase of the DCF dose. This study highlights the potential contribution of A. donax and the tested microbial inoculants for improving the effectiveness of bioremediation systems for CLA and DCF removal.

Protection of Prisoners with Mental Health Disorders in Italy: Lights and Shadows after the Abolition of Judicial Psychiatric Hospitals.

In Italy, a person suffering from a mental disorder who commits a crime will be given a custodial security order and serve the period of admission at a Residenza per la esecuzione delle misure di sicurezza (REMS) (Residence for the Execution of Security Measures, hereinafter "REMS"). These institutions have been established recently and though equipped with the necessary safety measures, the focus is on psychiatric therapy. Despite being present on a national scale, access is very limited in terms of capacity. Immediate remedial measures are needed, so much so that the European Court of Human Rights recently condemned Italy for this very reason. This article, through a review of the constitutive principles of these institutions, shows how they have very positive aspects such as the attention to necessary psychotherapy in order to protect the right to health and the real taking charge of the fragility of the subjects; however, it is seen how there are many negative aspects linked above all to the scarce availability of places in these structures. The article provides suggestions on a more comprehensive strategy for facilities for detainees with mental disorders.

Multiple Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Consortia Enhance Yield and Fatty Acids of Medicago sativa: A Two-Year Field Study on Agronomic Traits and Tracing of Fungal Persistence.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are promoted as biofertilizers due to potential benefits in crop productivity, and macro- and microelement uptake. However, crop response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation is context-dependent, and AMF diversity and field establishment and persistence of inoculants can greatly contribute to variation in outcomes. This study was designed to test the hypotheses that multiple and local AMF inoculants could enhance alfalfa yield and fatty acids (FA) compared to exotic isolates either single or in the mixture. We aimed also to verify the persistence of inoculated AMF, and which component of the AMF communities was the major driver of plant traits. Therefore, a field experiment of AMF inoculation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) with three single foreign isolates, a mixture of the foreign isolates (FMix), and a highly diverse mixture of local AMF (LMix) was set up. We showed that AMF improved alfalfa yield (+ 68%), nutrient (+ 147% N content and + 182% P content in forage), and FA content (+ 105%). These positive effects persisted for at least 2 years post-inoculation and were associated with enhanced AMF abundance in roots. Consortia of AMF strains acted in synergy, and the mixture of foreign AMF isolates provided greater benefits compared to local consortia (+ 20% forage yield, + 36% forage N content, + 18% forage P content, + 20% total FA in forage). Foreign strains of Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus irregularis persisted in the roots of alfalfa 2 years following inoculation, either as single inoculum or as a component of the mixture. Among inoculants, F. mosseae BEG12 and AZ225C and the FMix exerted a higher impact on the local AMF community compared with LMix and R. irregularis BEG141. Finally, the stimulation of the proliferation of a single-taxa (R. irregularis cluster1) induced by all inoculants was the main determinant of the host benefits. Crop productivity and quality as well as field persistence of inoculated AMF support the use of mixtures of foreign AMF. On the other hand, local mixtures showed a lower impact on native AMF. These results pave the way for extending the study on the effect of AMF mixtures for the production of high-quality forage for the animal diet.

Causes of mortality in a large population-based cohort of psychiatric patients in Southern Europe.

The World Health Organization considers excess morbidity and mortality among people with mental disorders as a high public health priority. This study aims to estimate the mortality risk and causes of death among a large population-based cohort of psychiatric patients. All residents in Veneto (Northeastern Italy) aged between 18 and 84 years with a contact with Community Mental Health Centers in 2008 and a psychiatric diagnosis (n = 54,350) were followed-up for 10 years. Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMR) and excess mortality were computed, with the general regional population as a reference. Mortality was more than doubled (males SMR = 2.4; females SMR = 2.2) and the relative increase in mortality was much larger in young and middle-aged adults (18-44 and 45-64 years) across all diagnostic groups. The most frequent causes were circulatory diseases (27%) and neoplasms (26%). Although the risk was increased by about tenfold, deaths from suicide were limited to 6% and 4% of all decedents in males and females, respectively. Patients with schizophrenia showed a very high risk for mortality for diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. A large excess was found also for respiratory diseases and a two-fold increase for lung cancer in males and breast cancer in females. Although chronic physical disorders are known to be the main causes of mortality in such patients, they receive far less attention than suicide or accidents. Our results suggest that there is still a need to plan actions to prevent excess mortality and to improve the quality of life of patients with mental disorders.

Interaction Between Conservation Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilization Shapes Prokaryotic and Fungal Diversity at Different Soil Depths: Evidence From a 23-Year Field Experiment in the Mediterranean Area.

Soil biodiversity accomplishes key roles in agro-ecosystem services consisting in preserving and enhancing soil fertility and nutrient cycling, crop productivity and environmental protection. Thus, the improvement of knowledge on the effect of conservation practices, related to tillage and N fertilization, on soil microbial communities is critical to better understand the role and function of microorganisms in regulating agro-ecosystems. In the Mediterranean area, vulnerable to climate change and suffering for management-induced losses of soil fertility, the impact of conservation practices on soil microbial communities is of special interest for building mitigation and adaptation strategies to climate change. A long-term experiment, originally designed to investigate the effect of tillage and N fertilization on crop yield and soil organic carbon, was utilized to understand the effect of these management practices on soil prokaryotic and fungal community diversity. The majority of prokaryotic and fungal taxa were common to all treatments at both soil depths, whereas few bacterial taxa (Cloacimonates, Spirochaetia and Berkelbacteria) and a larger number of fungal taxa (i.e., Coniphoraceae, Debaryomycetaceae, Geastraceae, Cordicypitaceae and Steccherinaceae) were unique to specific management practices. Soil prokaryotic and fungal structure was heavily influenced by the interaction of tillage and N fertilization: the prokaryotic community structure of the fertilized conventional tillage system was remarkably different respect to the unfertilized conservation and conventional systems in the surface layer. In addition, the effect of N fertilization in shaping the fungal community structure of the surface layer was higher under conservation tillage systems than under conventional tillage systems. Soil microbial community was shaped by soil depth irrespective of the effect of plowing and N addition. Finally, chemical and enzymatic parameters of soil and crop yields were significantly related to fungal community structure along the soil profile. The findings of this study gave new insights on the identification of management practices supporting and suppressing beneficial and detrimental taxa, respectively. This highlights the importance of managing soil microbial diversity through agro-ecological intensified systems in the Mediterranean area.

Author Correction: Impact of genetically engineered maize on agronomic, environmental and toxicological traits: a meta-analysis of 21 years of field data.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.

Impact of genetically engineered maize on agronomic, environmental and toxicological traits: a meta-analysis of 21 years of field data.

Despite the extensive cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) maize and considerable number of scientific reports on its agro-environmental impact, the risks and benefits of GE maize are still being debated and concerns about safety remain. This meta-analysis aimed at increasing knowledge on agronomic, environmental and toxicological traits of GE maize by analyzing the peer-reviewed literature (from 1996 to 2016) on yield, grain quality, non-target organisms (NTOs), target organisms (TOs) and soil biomass decomposition. Results provided strong evidence that GE maize performed better than its near isogenic line: grain yield was 5.6 to 24.5% higher with lower concentrations of mycotoxins (-28.8%), fumonisin (-30.6%) and thricotecens (-36.5%). The NTOs analyzed were not affected by GE maize, except for Braconidae, represented by a parasitoid of European corn borer, the target of Lepidoptera active Bt maize. Biogeochemical cycle parameters such as lignin content in stalks and leaves did not vary, whereas biomass decomposition was higher in GE maize. The results support the cultivation of GE maize, mainly due to enhanced grain quality and reduction of human exposure to mycotoxins. Furthermore, the reduction of the parasitoid of the target and the lack of consistent effects on other NTOs are confirmed.

Critical Limb Ischemia: A Practical Up-To-Date Review.

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the most advanced form of peripheral artery disease. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and high management costs. It carries a high risk of amputation and local infection. Moreover, cardiovascular complications remain a major concern. Although it is a well-known entity and new technological and therapeutic advances have been made, this condition remains poorly addressed, with significantly heterogeneous management, especially in nonexperienced centers. This review, from a third-level dedicated inpatient and outpatient cardioangiology structure, aims to provide an updated summary on the topic of CLI of its complexity, encompassing epidemiological, social, economical and, in particular, diagnostic/imaging issues, together with potential therapeutic strategies (medical, endovascular, and surgical), including the evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors, the diagnosis, and treatment together with prognostic stratification.

Response to Kruse-Plass et al. (2017) regarding the risk to non-target lepidopteran larvae exposed to pollen from one or more of three Bt maize events (MON810, Bt11 and 1507).

We respond to the paper of Kruse-Plass et al. (Environ Sci Eur 29:12, 2017), published in this journal, regarding the risk to non-target lepidopteran larvae exposed to pollen from one or more of three Bt maize events (MON810, Bt11 and 1507). We emphasise that what is important for environmental risk assessment is not the number of pollen grains per se, but the degree of exposure of a NT lepidopteran larva to Bt protein contained in maize pollen. The main text of this response deals with general issues which Kruse-Plass et al. have failed to understand; more detailed refutations of each of their claims are given in Additional file 1. Valid environmental risk assessment requires direct measurement of pollen on leaves at varying distances outside a source field(s); such measurements reflect the potential exposure experienced by an individual larva on a host plant. There are no new data in the Kruse-Plass et al. paper, or indeed any data directly quantifying pollen on actual host-plant leaves outside a maize field; only data gathered within or at the edge of maize crops were reported. Values quoted by Kruse-Plass et al. for deposition on host plants outside the field were estimates only. We reiterate the severe methodological criticisms made by EFSA [Relevance of a new scientific publication (Hofmann et al. 2016) for previous environmental risk assessment conclusions and risk management recommendations on the cultivation of Bt-maize events MON810, Bt11 and 1507. EFSA Supp Publ; EN-1070, 2016], which render this estimation procedure unreliable. Furthermore, criticisms of EFSA (EFSA J 2015(13):4127, 2015) and of EFSA [Relevance of a new scientific publication (Hofmann et al. 2016) for previous environmental risk assessment conclusions and risk management recommendations on the cultivation of Bt-maize events MON810, Bt11 and 1507. EFSA Supp Publ; EN-1070, 2016] made by Kruse-Plass et al. are shown in Additional file 1 to be without foundation. We therefore consider that there is no valid evidence presented by Kruse-Plass et al. to justify their conclusions.

Assessing environmental impacts of genetically modified plants on non-target organisms: The relevance of in planta studies.

In legal frameworks worldwide, genetically modified plants (GMPs) are subjected to pre-market environmental risk assessment (ERA) with the aim of identifying potential effects on the environment. In the European Union, the EFSA Guidance Document introduces the rationale that GMPs, as well as their newly produced metabolites, represent the potential stressor to be evaluated during ERA. As a consequence, during several phases of ERA for cultivation purposes, it is considered necessary to use whole plants or plant parts in experimental protocols. The importance of in planta studies as a strategy to address impacts of GMPs on non-target organisms is demonstrated, to evaluate both effects due to the intended modification in plant phenotype (e.g. expression of Cry proteins) and effects due to unintended modifications in plant phenotype resulting from the transformation process (e.g. due to somaclonal variations or pleiotropic effects). In planta tests are also necessary for GMPs in which newly expressed metabolites cannot easily be studied in vitro. This paper reviews the scientific literature supporting the choice of in planta studies as a fundamental tool in ERA of GMPs in cultivation dossiers; the evidence indicates they can realistically mimic the ecological relationships occurring in their receiving environments and provide important insights into the biology and sustainable management of GMPs.

Noninvasive Transcutaneous Monitoring in Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients With Thromboangiitis Obliterans Treated With Intravenous Iloprost.

We evaluated the effectiveness of intravenous iloprost (IVI) in outpatients with thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) and lower limb noninvasive transcutaneous monitoring (TCM) at follow-up (FU). Ten consecutive patients with TAO underwent IVI therapy. Transcutaneous oxygen (TcPo 2) and carbon dioxide (TcPco 2) determination and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) were performed before and after IVI at 3, 6, and 12 months of FU. Clinical response was positive in 7 patients, whereas 3 nonresponders underwent a second IVI cycle with 1 showing a late positive clinical response. After 12 months of FU, all patients were alive without amputations. Supine and dependent TcP2 levels significantly improved (P < .005). Hallux LDF values showed significant change with the maximal hyperemic test at 44°C (P < .005). Forefoot maximal hyperemic test at 44°C LDF (P < .005) and improved venous arterial reflex (P < .05) showed statistically significant time evolution. We demonstrated some degree of IVI effectiveness and evaluated TCM in patients with TAO.

Lack of a relationship between circulating gamma-glutamyltransferase levels and carotid intima media thickness in hypertensive and diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: By increasing the intracellular prooxidant burden, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) may accelerate atherosclerotic vascular disease. That noxious influence may be reflected by circulating enzyme levels, a correlate of cardiovascular risk factors, and a predictor of incident events. To evaluate this hypothesis, we tested the association between circulating GGT and common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), a surrogate index of systemic atherosclerotic involvement, in a large and well-characterized group of patients at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). PATIENTS: This study analyzed 548 patients with hypertension and/or diabetes and a widely prevalent history of CVD. Subjects with known hepatic disease and abnormal GGT values were excluded. METHODS: CIMT (B-mode ultrasonography) values were the mean of four far-wall measurements at both common carotids. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was diagnosed according to National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Due to inherent sex-related differences in GGT levels, the data were analyzed separately in males and females in samples dichotomized by the median. RESULTS: The age-adjusted CIMT values did not differ by GGT levels in males or females. In contrast, the carotid wall was consistently thicker in patients with a history of CVD and MetS independent of age and concurrent GGT values. In both sexes, GGT was associated with key components of the MetS such as triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, and body mass index. CONCLUSION: The data collected in this mixed group of hypertensive and/or diabetic patients with widely prevalent history of CVD do not support the concept of a direct pathophysiological link between GGT levels within reference limits and atherosclerotic involvement.

Estimating the effects of Cry1F Bt-maize pollen on non-target Lepidoptera using a mathematical model of exposure.

In farmland biodiversity, a potential risk to the larvae of non-target Lepidoptera from genetically modified (GM) Bt-maize expressing insecticidal Cry1 proteins is the ingestion of harmful amounts of pollen deposited on their host plants. A previous mathematical model of exposure quantified this risk for Cry1Ab protein. We extend this model to quantify the risk for sensitive species exposed to pollen containing Cry1F protein from maize event 1507 and to provide recommendations for management to mitigate this risk.A 14-parameter mathematical model integrating small- and large-scale exposure was used to estimate the larval mortality of hypothetical species with a range of sensitivities, and under a range of simulated mitigation measures consisting of non-Bt maize strips of different widths placed around the field edge.The greatest source of variability in estimated mortality was species sensitivity. Before allowance for effects of large-scale exposure, with moderate within-crop host-plant density and with no mitigation, estimated mortality locally was <10% for species of average sensitivity. For the worst-case extreme sensitivity considered, estimated mortality locally was 99·6% with no mitigation, although this estimate was reduced to below 40% with mitigation of 24-m-wide strips of non-Bt maize. For highly sensitive species, a 12-m-wide strip reduced estimated local mortality under 1·5%, when within-crop host-plant density was zero. Allowance for large-scale exposure effects would reduce these estimates of local mortality by a highly variable amount, but typically of the order of 50-fold.Mitigation efficacy depended critically on assumed within-crop host-plant density; if this could be assumed negligible, then the estimated effect of mitigation would reduce local mortality below 1% even for very highly sensitive species.Synthesis and applications. Mitigation measures of risks of Bt-maize to sensitive larvae of non-target lepidopteran species can be effective, but depend on host-plant densities which are in turn affected by weed-management regimes. We discuss the relevance for management of maize events where cry1F is combined (stacked) with a herbicide-tolerance trait. This exemplifies how interactions between biota may occur when different traits are stacked irrespective of interactions between the proteins themselves and highlights the importance of accounting for crop management in the assessment of the ecological impact of GM plants.

Sulphur dioxide affects culturability and volatile phenol production by Brettanomyces/Dekkera bruxellensis.

The effect of different sulphur dioxide concentrations on culturability and viability of seven strains of Brettanomyces bruxellensis was tested in a synthetic wine medium (SWM) and a different response to molecular SO(2) among strains was detected. Sulphur dioxide induced a viable but non culturable (VBNC) state in all the strains. The greater percentage of VBNC cells were identified for five strains at molecular SO(2) concentrations of 0.2mg/L and for two strains at the concentration of 0.4mg/L. Vinyl phenols were detected in media containing VBNC or not viable B. bruxellensis, suggesting that its spoilage metabolism could be maintained during wine storage. Overall, this study indicates that SO(2) is a chemical stressor inducing VBNC state in B. bruxellensis grown in synthetic wine medium. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effects of SO(2) on the metabolism of this yeast in wine spoilage.

Obsessive-Compulsive and Post Traumatic Avoidance Symptoms Influence the Response to Antihypertensive Therapy: Relevance in Uncontrolled Hypertension.

AIM: To investigate the association of uncontrolled hypertension with psychological factors associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (type D personality, depression, posttraumatic stress-related symptoms). METHODS: 205 consecutive outpatient hypertensives completed three questionnaires evaluating Type D personality (DS 16), post traumatic symptoms (revised Impact of Events Scale), symptoms of anxiety, hostility, depression and obsessive-compulsive traits (subscales of the Symptom Checklist). Uncontrolled hypertension was diagnosed when clinic sitting blood pressure was above 140/90 mmHg (130/80 in the presence of diabetes or nephropathy), despite reported adherence to treatment with at least three antihypertensive medications, including a diuretic. RESULTS: Uncontrolled hypertension (39%), was predicted by lower scores at Symptom Checklist obsessive-compulsive subscale and higher number of post traumatic avoidance symptoms, older age, diabetes, higher systolic pressure at first visit and longstanding hypertension. Type D personality correlated with depression, hostility, anxiety, compulsiveness, history of malignancy, and older age, but not with uncontrolled hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Uncontrolled hypertension is associated with low obsessionality and avoidance symptoms, which reduce compliance to treatment. On the contrary, type D personality is not correlated with uncontrolled hypertension, as it includes compulsiveness, which improves compliance. A multidisciplinary approach to the hypertensive patient is mandatory to establish if the psychological profile affects compliance.

HAS-1 genetic polymorphism in sporadic abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The hyaluronan synthase 1 (HAS-1) gene encodes a plasma membrane protein that synthesizes hyaluronan (HA), an extracellular matrix molecule. Accumulating evidence emphasizes the relevance of HA metabolism in an increasing number of processes of clinical interest, including abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The existence of aberrant splicing variants of the HAS-1 gene could partly explain the altered extracellular matrix architecture and influence various biological functions, resulting in progressive arterial wall failure in the development of AAA. In the present study, we assessed the hypothesis that HAS-1 genetic 833A/G polymorphism could be associated with the risk of AAA by performing a case-control association study, involving AAA patients and healthy matched donors.

Development of a strain-specific genomic marker for monitoring a Bacillus subtilis biocontrol strain in the rhizosphere of tomato.

A strain-specific molecular marker enabling the detection and tracking of the biological control agent Bacillus subtilis 101, when released into the environment, was developed. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to differentiate this from other B. subtilis strains. A differentially amplified fragment obtained from RAPD profiles was sequenced and characterized as sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker, and four primer pairs were designed and evaluated for their specificity towards this strain. The sensibility of the selected SCAR primer pair was evaluated by qualitative PCR and Southern blotting, and the detection limit was assessed around 10(2) CFU (g dry wt soil)(-1), thus providing a reliable tool for the traceability of this B. subtilis strain in greenhouse or field trials. A plating assay coupled to PCR with the SCAR primer pair was then used as a detection method in microcosm experiments for monitoring the population of B. subtilis 101 in the rhizosphere of tomato, grown under two different soil conditions, i.e. nonsterile peat-based substrate and sandy-loam agricultural soil, respectively. The data of rhizosphere colonization indicated that the soil conditions significantly affected the rhizosphere establishment of strain 101.