A widespread picornavirus affects the hemocytes of the noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis), leading to its immunosuppression

Introduction

The widespread mass mortality of the noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis) has occurred in several Mediterranean countries in the past 7 years. Single-stranded RNA viruses affecting immune cells and leading to immune dysfunction have been widely reported in human and animal species. Here, we present data linking P. nobilis mass mortality events (MMEs) to hemocyte picornavirus (PV) infection. This study was performed on specimens from wild and captive populations.

Methods

We sampled P. nobilis from two regions of Spain [Catalonia (24 animals) and Murcia (four animals)] and one region in Italy [Venice (6 animals)]. Each of them were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to describe the morphology and self-assembly of virions. Illumina sequencing coupled to qPCR was performed to describe the identified virus and part of its genome.

Results and discussion

In 100% of our samples, ultrastructure revealed the presence of a virus (20 nm diameter) capable of replicating within granulocytes and hyalinocytes, leading to the accumulation of complex vesicles of different dimensions within the cytoplasm. As the PV infection progressed, dead hemocytes, infectious exosomes, and budding of extracellular vesicles were visible, along with endocytic vesicles entering other cells. The THC (total hemocyte count) values observed in both captive (eight animals) (3.5 × 104-1.60 × 105 ml-1 cells) and wild animals (14 samples) (1.90-2.42 × 105 ml-1 cells) were lower than those reported before MMEs. Sequencing of P. nobilis (six animals) hemocyte cDNA libraries revealed the presence of two main sequences of Picornavirales, family Marnaviridae. The highest number of reads belonged to animals that exhibited active replication phases and abundant viral particles from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. These sequences correspond to the genus Sogarnavirus-a picornavirus identified in the marine diatom Chaetoceros tenuissimus (named C. tenuissimus RNA virus type II). Real-time PCR performed on the two most abundant RNA viruses previously identified by in silico analysis revealed positive results only for sequences similar to the C. tenuissimus RNA virus. These results may not conclusively identify picornavirus in noble pen shell hemocytes; therefore, further study is required. Our findings suggest that picornavirus infection likely causes immunosuppression, making individuals prone to opportunistic infections, which is a potential cause for the MMEs observed in the Mediterranean.

Disease and Disorders of Freshwater Unionid Mussels: A Brief Overview of Recent Studies

The use of aquatic invertebrates in biomedical research and as environmental sentinels has dramatically grown in recent decades, with an increased need in understanding of comparative pathology. The Unionids freshwater mussels are a group of worldwide distributed bivalves residing small ditches and ponds, lakes, canals and rivers, often used as animal test in eco-toxicological studies. Once one of the most abundant bivalve molluscs in ancient rivers around the world, now many of them are declining in many countries and consequently are nearly extinct in many areas. The causes of this decline are not fully understood but alteration and degradation of the freshwater habitat seemed to play a central role. To date, link causality to the observed losses during episode of mussel die-offs has been more difficult to establish, and disease and pathogen presence have been scarcely considered. In this article we provide a brief overview of unionids freshwater mussel conservation status, also describing reported diseases and pathogens and illustrating a few relatively well-documented studies.

[Clinical study on 40 cases of inflammatory pathologies of upper respiratory and digestive tract treated by inhalatory crenotherapy]

OBJECTIVES

Authors present beneficial effects of crenotherapy on 40 patients suffering from inflammatory mucosal conditions of upper respiratory-digestive tract (URDT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our study was realized at the hydrothermal premises in Telese Terme (BN, Italy). Subjects selected for this study are 40 patients (22 males and 18 females) aged 20-68 years (mean 38.6 years) who suffered from catarrhal and inflammatory mucosal diseases of URDT. The patients, who are informed about the modalities of the study, undergo E.N.T. examination and nasal mucosal brushing for cytologic analysis before and after crenotherapy.

RESULTS

At the end of the therapeutic course we observed a relevant improvement of clinical indicators and of mucociliary transport time in URDT. Moreover, a satisfactory control of local inflammation is highlighted by a rhinocytogram, performed after crenotherapy and showing an increase in plasma cells, a decrease in granulocytes and a normalization of mucous secretion (nasal mucosal histology).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that sulphurous waters are particularly effective in anti-catarrhal and anti-inflammatory therapy of URDT.

[Glucan solution nasal spray vs saline in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis: a multi-centric double blind randomised clinical trial]

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of 30 days treatment with glucan solution nasal spray vs. saline in the treatment of signs and symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

100 patients affected by chronic rhinosinusitis were enrolled. At the beginning and at the end of the study were evaluated: nasal congestion, headache, rhinorrea, facial pain, rhinopharyngeal exudate, inferior turbinate hypertrophy; a complete instrumental analysis of nasal functions by Active Anterior Rhinomanometry, nasal Muco-Ciliary Transport time and scraping of nasal mucosa was also performed. The patients were randomized 1:1 for receiving intranasal saline or intranasal glucan solution spray. Treatment was administered as follows: 2 puffs/nostril 3 times a day for 30 days.

RESULTS

The patients in therapy with the glucan solution showed a significant improvement concerning rhinorrea facial pain, intensity of headache, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, rhinopharyngeal exudates, inspiratory/expiratory nasal resistences, Muco-ciliary transport time, normalization of nasal mucosas and rhinocytogram; saline lavage didn't show this effects. Both treatment improved rhinorrea, instead both treatment didn't affect nasal congestion.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the results of our multicentric double blind randomized study, we suggest the use of glucan solution nasal spray as an efficacious therapeutic tool in the management of nasal symptoms in patients affected by chronic rhinosinusitis.

[Case report: ipsilateral association of posterior and anterior canalolithiasis]

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most frequently occurring dizzy syndrome. The literature provides ample descriptions of the forms determined by canalo/cupulolithiasis of the posterior canal, the most common, as well as canalo/cupulolithiasis of the horizontal canal. Descriptions of the forms of canalo/cupulolithiasis of the anterior canal are, instead, very rare and, sometimes questioned: this is fundamentally due to its superior position, which makes it a much less likely site for the accumulation of debris, both from a conceptual and practical point of view. For these reasons, the Authors feel that the presentation of this case of PPV is of particular interest. After analyzing and excluding other interpretations as less probable, they considered the syndrome as determined by the association of right posterior and anterior canalolithiasis. This form, as in the case of posterior canalolithiasis, responded to treatment with Semont's liberatory procedure.

[Pleomorphic adenoma in unusual anatomic sites: case reports and review of literature]

Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common neoplasm of the major salivary glands, in particular of the parotid gland. Only occasionally can it be found in the cervicofacial area outside the major and minor salivary glands of the oral cavity. The present article describes three cases of pleomorphic adenoma, respectively of the external auditory canal, the nose, and the larynx. The three tumors showed no clinical or radiological signs of malignancy and were surgically excised with a suitable margin of healthy tissue. Histologically, the typical features of pleomorphic adenoma were observed in the larynx case alone. The pleomorphic adenoma of the external auditory canal evidenced an extensive apocrine glandular component; the neoplasm of the nose was itself characterized by ample proliferation of fused cells. Immunohistochemical findings revealed focal or widespread positivity to cytokeratin, S100 protein and muscle-specific actin in both the epithelial and mesenchymal components of the neoplasm. Cases of pleomorphic adenoma in sites other than the major salivary glands show clinical and radiological signs of benignity. Their histopathological identification is, however, not always straightforward; immunohistochemistry can contribute significantly to the formulation of a definitive diagnosis and to the realization of an appropriate follow-up.

[Sign-report: torsional nystagmus from head-shaking in patients with labyrinth lithiasis of the vertical canal]

The clinical picture of Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo (PPV) induced by vertical canal labyrintholithiasis has been clearly described, eliminating previous interpretations of pathogenesis of this disorder. The diagnosis of PPV is based on the well-known picture of positional paroxysmal Nystagmus. The Authors report a clinical sign which has not previously been reported in the literature: torsional Nystagmus induced by the Head-Shaking Test (HST). The Authors encoutered this sign in 30% of the cases of vertical canalolithiasis and in 50% of the cases diagnosed as vertical cupulolithiasis. This sign was also found in patients with a history of prior positional vertigo and in patients who, after treatment with release maneuver, no longer show clinical signs of positional vertigo. Such Nystagmus was not, however, found in the control group (normal subjects and patients suffering from other vestibular pathologies). In the present study the possible pathogenesis of this sign is discussed and some practical implications are considered.

[Vertical nystagmus induced by the head-shaking test: 10 cases]

In cases of central and/or peripheral vestibular system asymmetry, Head-Shaking test-induced Nystagmus (H.S.-Ny) can appear after a cycle of 20 horizontal head oscillations. Four types of H.S.-Ny have been described, all of which are horizontal: 1) deficit Ny; 2) recovery Ny; 3) biphasic Ny; 4) triphasic Ny. None of these forms are specific for any given vestibular asymmetry site, whether central or peripheral. The authors report another low vertical type of H.S.-Ny found in 13 of the 1500 cases where the test was performed. Ten of these cases are discussed here. Vertical H.S.-Ny was found in 7 cases of N.M.R.-confirmed central pathologies, in 1 case of complications from epidemic parotitis and in 2 cases for which N.M.R. did not confirm the presence of an organic pathology. Vertical H.S.-Ny was often associated with other vestibular signs (Gaze-Ny, Rebound Ny, variable direction Ny, down-beat positional Ny, labyrinthine hyper reflexia). The authors consider this form of nystagmus a simple, easily determined signal of great importance in diagnosing the presence of a central, tronco-encephalic and cerebellar pathologies.

[Use of CO2 laser in conservative surgery of glottic tumors]

The present work evaluates the results obtained in a group of 360 patients with laryngeal-glottic tumors (classification T1/T2-N0-M0) who, in the last 10 years, have undergone direct microlaryngoscopy surgery employing a CO2 Laser. In the T1 glottic carcinomas the neoplasm was limited to the vocal cord on one side or it involved the anterior commissure and, most likely, the vocal cord on the opposite side; in T2 glottic tumors the extension reached the hypoglottic region and/or the Morgagni ventricle and the false vocal cords on one or both sides but without compromising laryngeal motility. The five year healing rate for the T1 tumors proved to be 84.7% while it was 74% for the T2 forms. In 36 cases complications were found which can be broken down as follows: - limited local recurrences (13 patients) requiring subsequent direct microlaryngoscopy; - regional lymph node metastases (6 patients) without reproduction of the primary neoplasm; in general (5 of the 6 cases) these patients underwent lateral neck dissection; - spreading of the neoplastic process (17 cases) which made total laryngectomy with lateral neck dissection necessary; this procedure was performed in 15 cases. When these subsequent surgical procedures are also taken into account the percentage healing rises to 94.3% for T1 glottic tumors and to 84.9% for T2. Detailed analysis of the case study, comparison with the data found in the relative literature regarding patients treated with traditional techniques, a series of observations on the advantages and disadvantages inherent to the techniques employed have all led to the conclusion that the use of a CO2 laser in the treatment of laryngeal tumors gives excellent results in terms of prognosis. Moreover, this technique offers significant advantages over the traditional methods and constitutes a reliable technique for partial laryngectomies as long as the indications are accurately applied and the proper techniques used.

CO2 laser in laryngeal microsurgery

The CO2 Laser is used in the treatment of several laryngeal diseases and offers considerable advantages over traditional techniques. New applications of this surgical tool are currently under study for other laryngeal and ENT pathologies. It should be pointed out that there are some limitations to the use of the CO2 Laser; an accurate examination of its indications is needed, as well as a precise knowledge of its techniques and possibilities.

[Yersinia enterocolitica infection has taken hold even in our country]

The Yersinia enterocolitis is a kind of disease whose diffusion is gradually increasing in North Europe. The authors relates about the outcomes of a serum-immunologic research conducted during the period 1982-84 on a sample of 965 adults coming from three different italian districts (Roma, Siena, Napoli) and 65 children coming from Napoli. They interpret antibody titers painted out by their research comparing them with ones reported in bibliography. The issue of this research, even if it was conducted only in three bordering central-southern Italy regions, can anticipate an indicative epidemiological image of this Country.