Responses of monogenean species to variations in abiotic parameters in tilapiculture.

Fish farming is becoming an increasingly popular agricultural activity, and water quality in these environments is a major concern. Fish parasites, such as monogeneans, respond to changes in abiotic conditions, either with an increase or decrease in population. This study aimed to identify gill monogeneans and analyse their relationships with abiotic factors during the ontogenetic development of Nile tilapia over the fish culture cycle in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Fish were sampled monthly for eight months, and a total of 200 fish were collected. The physical and chemical water parameters were measured and correlated with the abundance of each monogenean species. Over the fish culture cycle, the physical and chemical parameters fluctuated, and the water quality decreased. The parasites found included Cichlidogyrus tilapiae, Cichlidogyrus thurstonae, Cichlidogyrus sclerosus, Cichlidogyrus halli and Scutogyrus longicornis. The abundances of all species showed significant differences during ontogenetic development (body size) and C. tilapiae, C. sclerosus, C. thurstonae and S. longicornis were correlated with changes in abiotic conditions. However, C. halli was not significantly correlated with any of the evaluated physical or chemical parameters. Understanding how different monogenean species respond to changes in the physical and chemical parameters of water during a production cycle can prevent peaks in abundance and subsequent sanitary problems.

Effects of high-intensity interval vs. continuous moderate exercise on intraocular pressure.

Our purpose was to compare the acute effects of high-intensity interval training (HIT) vs. continuous moderate exercise (CME) on intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy subjects. Fifteen young men (age=22.1±6 years) underwent 30 min of HIT (2 min of walking at 50% of reserve heart rate (HR) alternated with 1 min of running at 80% of reserve HR) and CME sessions (30 min of jogging/running at 60% of reserve HR) in random order (2-5 days between sessions). IOP was measured before (baseline), immediately after (post--exercise), 5 min after (Rec5) and 10 min after (Rec10) each exercise session. IOP was reduced post-exercise and remained reduced at Rec5 during both HIT and CME session, with no significant difference between interventions (~16% between 23%). However, IOP remained reduced at Rec10 only after HIT intervention (~19%), whereas IOP at Rec10 returned to levels similar to the observed at baseline during CME intervention. In summary, both HIT and CME equally reduced IOP immediately and 5 min after exercise session. However, only HIT was able to remain IOP reduced 10 min after exercise. These results suggest that HIT may be more effective than CME for reducing IOP in young healthy men.

[Earthquake in Abruzzo, public health interventions. Preliminary report]. / Interventi sanitari in occasione del sisma in Abruzzo. Rapporto preliminare.

On 6th April 2009, at 3.32 AM, there was in L'Aquila and in some neighbouring villages, after an earthquake swarm last some months, an earthquake of M(L) = 5.8 (Richter magnitude scale) on depth of 8.8 km. The event was sensed in a very broad area, till in Rome and Ancon. The operative committee of the Civil Protection Department immediately gathered and a first operating group was despatched in the epicentre; the voluntary association of civil protection were in a pre-alarm situation and then were activated. This work want describe all the activities from 6th April 2009 till 31th August 2009, giving too a synthesis of the normative lines in case of catastrophic events typology C, otherwise all that events impossible to manage without national intervention.

Inactivation of glutaraldehyde by reaction with sodium bisulfite.

The microbiocidal activity of glutaraldehyde was inactivated by reaction with sodium bisulfite via formation of a proposed glutaraldehyde-bisulfite complex. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of 2% (0.2M) alkaline glutaraldehyde indicated complete loss of glutaraldehyde at a 2.2:1 molar ratio of sodium bisulfite to glutaraldehyde. Neither 1.7% (0.17 M) sodium bisulfite alone nor the glutaraldehyde-bisulfite complex was microbiocidal when tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Polybac Polyseed BOD seed inoculum. Bacterial inhibition tests indicated that the glutaraldehyde-sodium bisulfite complex had no effect on the growth of sewage microorganisms at concentrations as high as 50-100 ppm (5 x 10(-4)-1 x 10(-3) M), with an IC50 of 230-440 ppm (2.3 x 10(-3)-4.4 x 10(-3) M), based on glutaraldehyde concentration. A 28-close bottle test showed a 5-d biodegradation of 48% and 51%, and a 15-d biodegradation of 57% and 63% for 3:1 and 2.2:1 bisulfite to glutaraldehyde molar ratios, respectively. Acute aquatic toxicity testing with Daphnia magna demonstrated an LC50 of 41-109 ppm (4.1 x 10(-4)-10.9 x 10(-4) M) and a no-observed-effect concentration (NOEC) of 16 ppm (1.6 x 10(-4) M) for the proposed glutaraldehyde-bisulfite complex (based on glutaraldehyde concentration), approximately 10-fold higher than found for glutaraldehyde alone, indicating that the proposed glutaraldehyde-bisulfite complex is less toxic to the environment than glutaraldehyde.

[A clinical case of autoimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia]. / Considerazioni su un caso clinico di trombocitopenia neonatale autoimmune.

The Authors, after briefly the classification of neonatal thrombocytopenia (NT) and the causes Autoimmune Neonatal Thrombocytopenia (AINT), present the case of thrombocytopenic purpura in a neonate born of a mother affected by asynptomathic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (PTI). The AINT diagnosis, suspected on the basis of the clinical state, is confirmed either by the presence in the mother's serum of free antibody antiplatelet, or measurement of maternal platelet associated IgG (PAIgG). In conclusion the Authors report the management in the case of neonates at "risk" for AINT.