Long-term investigation of methane and carbon dioxide emissions in two Italian landfills

Landfills play a key role as greenhouse gas (GHGs) emitters, and urgently need assessment and management plans development to swiftly reduce their climate impact. In this context, accurate emission measurements from landfills under different climate and management would reduce the uncertainty in emission accounting. In this study, more than one year of long-term high-frequency data of CO2 and CH4 fluxes were collected in two Italian landfills (Giugliano and Case Passerini) with contrasting management (gas recovery VS no management) using eddy covariance (EC), with the aim to i) investigate the relation between climate drivers and CO2 and CH4 fluxes at different time intervals and ii) to assess the overall GHG balances including the biogas extraction and energy recovery components. Results indicated a higher net atmospheric CO2 source (5.7 ± 5.3 g m2 d-1) at Giugliano compared to Case Passerini (2.4 ± 4.9 g m2 d-1) as well as one order of magnitude higher atmospheric CH4 fluxes (6.0 ± 5.7 g m2 d-1 and 0.7 ± 0.6 g m2 d-1 respectively). Statistical analysis highlighted that fluxes were mainly driven by thermal variables, followed by water availability, with their relative importance changing according to the time-interval considered. The rate of change in barometric pressure (dP/dt) influenced CH4 patterns and magnitude in the classes ranging from -1.25 to +1.25 Pa h-1, with reduction when dP/dt > 0 and increase when dP/dt < 0, whilst a clear pattern was not observed when all dP/dt classes were analyzed. When including management, the total atmospheric GHG balance computed for the two landfills of Giugliano and Case Passerini was 174 g m2 d-1 and 79 g m2 d-1 respectively, of which 168 g m2 d-1 and 20 g m2 d-1 constituted by CH4 fluxes.

The earliest Ethiopian wolf: implications for the species evolution and its future survival

In 2017, a hemimandible (MW5-B208), corresponding to the Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), was found in a stratigraphically-controlled and radio-isotopically-dated sequence of the Melka Wakena paleoanthropological site-complex, on the Southeastern Ethiopian Highlands, ~ 2300 m above sea level. The specimen is the first and unique Pleistocene fossil of this species. Our data provide an unambiguous minimum age of 1.6-1.4 Ma for the species' presence in Africa and constitutes the first empirical evidence that supports molecular interpretations. Currently, C. simensis is one of the most endangered carnivore species of Africa. Bioclimate niche modeling applied to the time frame indicated by the fossil suggests that the lineage of the Ethiopian wolf faced severe survival challenges in the past, with consecutive drastic geographic range contractions during warmer periods. These models help to describe future scenarios for the survival of the species. Projections ranging from most pessimistic to most optimistic future climatic scenarios indicate significant reduction of the already-deteriorating territories suitable for the Ethiopian Wolf, increasing the threat to the specie's future survival. Additionally, the recovery of the Melka Wakena fossil underscores the importance of work outside the East African Rift System in research of early human origins and associated biodiversity on the African continent.

An integrated approach to estimate how much urban afforestation can contribute to move towards carbon neutrality

Urban afforestation is considered a promising nature-climate solution that may contribute to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, since it can increase C-storage and C-sequestration, whilst providing further multiple ecosystem services for citizens. However, the quantification of the CO₂ sequestration capacity that may be provided by an urban forest as well as the capacity to impact the city-level C-balance and offset anthropogenic emissions is a complex issue. Methodological approaches, quantity and quality of information contained in urban tree database, and the level of detail of the planned urban forest can strongly influence the estimation of C-sequestration potential offered by urban forests. In this work, an integrated framework based on emission inventory, tree species/morphology and ecosystem modelling has been proposed for the city of Prato, Italy, a representative medium size European city to: i) evaluate the current C-sequestration capacity of urban trees; ii) upscale such capacity with different afforestation scenarios, iii) compare the sink capacity offered by ecosystems with current and projected anthropogenic emissions. Results indicated that the green areas within the Municipality of Prato can sequester 33.1 ktCO₂ yr^-1 under actual conditions and 51.0 ktCO₂ yr^-1 under the afforestation scenario which maximize the CO₂ sequestration capacity, offsetting the 7.1 % and 11 % of the total emissions (465.8 ktCO₂ yr^-1), respectively. This study proves that, in the various afforestation scenarios tested, the contribution of urban afforestation to the municipality carbon balance is negligible and that carbon neutrality can only be reached by the substantial decarbonization of emission sectors.

Zoogeographic significance of Dmanisi large mammal assemblage

We undertake a comparative mammalian zoogeographic analysis with the aim of revealing the extent to which the Dmanisi Early Pleistocene large mammal assemblage resembles, at the genus level, African, Arabian, and Eurasian localities of similar age. The inclusion of Old World Pliocene and Pleistocene mammalian faunas provides us with insights into the provincial origins of specific mammalian taxa and permits us to assess the relative affiliation of the Dmanisi mammalian faunas to other faunas in the Old World. Our analysis also allows us to consider hypotheses about the timing and direction of zoogeographic connections between western Eurasia and Africa during the Early Pleistocene. We utilize multiple zoogeographic analytical tools as a cross-comparison of Dmanisi with 42 other Eurasian and African mammalian-bearing localities between 2.7 and 0.7 Ma. Overall, we find that Dmanisi compares most closely with a subgroup of Greek, Italian, and Spanish localities that are slightly younger than Dmanisi itself. This could suggest a progressive dispersal from East to West of the large mammal communities during the late Early Pleistocene and the first occurrence at Dmanisi, and then later in Western Europe, of some taxa such as Stephanorhinus ex gr. etruscus-hundsheimensis, Equus altidens, Bison georgicus, Soergelia minor, Megantereon whitei, Canis borjgali, Canis (Xenocyon) lycaonoides. Dmanisi's habitats included drier areas, probably of open wooded savannah and grassland and by mountainous to semiarid rocky terrain. There is evidence that Dmanisi records short intervals of increased aridity in the middle part of the succession contemporaneous with the occurrence of Homo.

A novel methodology for Groundwater Flooding Susceptibility assessment through Machine Learning techniques in a mixed-land use aquifer

Many areas around the world are affected by Groundwater Level rising (GWLr). One of the most severe consequences of this phenomenon is Groundwater Flooding (GF), with serious impacts for the human and natural environment. In Europe, GF has recently received specific attention with Directive 2007/60/EC, which requires Member States to map GF hazard and propose measures for risk mitigation. In this paper a methodology has been developed for Groundwater Flooding Susceptibility (GFS) assessment, using for the first time Spatial Distribution Models. These Machine Learning techniques connect occurrence data to predisposing factors (PFs) to estimate their distributions. The implemented methodology employs aquifer type, depth of piezometric level, thickness and hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated zone, drainage density and land-use as PFs, and a GF observations inventory as occurrences. The algorithms adopted to perform the analysis are Generalized Boosting Model, Artificial Neural Network and Maximum Entropy. Ensemble Models are carried out to reduce the uncertainty associated with each algorithm and increase its reliability. GFS is mapped by choosing the ensemble model with the best predictivity performance and dividing occurrence probability values into five classes, from very low to very high susceptibility, using Natural Breaks classification. The methodology has been tested and statistically validated in an area of 14,3 km² located in the Metropolitan City of Naples (Italy), affected by GWLr since 1990 and GF in buildings and agricultural soils since 2007. The results of modeling show that about 93% of the inventoried points fall in the high and very high GFS classes, and piezometric level depth, thickness of unsaturated zone and drainage density are the most influencing PFs, in accordance with field observations and the triggering mechanism of GF. The outcomes provide a first step in the assessment of GF hazard and a decision support tool to local authorities for GF risk management.

A Major Change in Rate of Climate Niche Envelope Evolution during Hominid History

Homo sapiens is the only species alive able to take advantage of its cognitive abilities to inhabit almost all environments on Earth. Humans are able to culturally construct, rather than biologically inherit, their occupied climatic niche to a degree unparalleled within the animal kingdom. Precisely, when hominins acquired such an ability remains unknown, and scholars disagree on the extent to which our ancestors shared this same ability. Here, we settle this issue using fine-grained paleoclimatic data, extensive archaeological data, and phylogenetic comparative methods. Our results indicate that whereas early hominins were forced to live under physiologically suitable climatic conditions, with the emergence of H. heidelbergensis, the Homo climatic niche expanded beyond its natural limits, despite progressive harshening in global climates. This indicates that technological innovations providing effective exploitation of cold and seasonal habitats predated the emergence of Homo sapiens.

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Homo sapiens oversteps our ecological niche limits by means of culture

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The origin of Homo niche-construction ability is unknown

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We found Homo species other than H. sapiens were able to construct their own niche

A 450 million years long latitudinal gradient in age-dependent extinction

Leigh Van Valen famously stated that under constant conditions extinction probability is independent of species age. To test this 'law of constant extinction', we developed a new method using deep learning to infer age‐dependent extinction and analysed 450 myr of marine life across 21 invertebrate clades. We show that extinction rate significantly decreases with age in > 90% of the cases, indicating that most species died out soon after their appearance while those which survived experienced ever decreasing extinction risk. This age‐dependent extinction pattern is stronger towards the Equator and holds true when the potential effects of mass extinctions and taxonomic inflation are accounted for. These results suggest that the effect of biological interactions on age‐dependent extinction rate is more intense towards the tropics. We propose that the latitudinal diversity gradient and selection at the species level account for this exceptional, yet little recognised, macroevolutionary and macroecological pattern.

Contributions of biogenic material to the atmospheric ice-nucleating particle population in North Western Europe

A minute fraction of atmospheric particles exert a disproportionate effect on the phase of mixed-phase clouds by acting as ice-nucleating particles (INPs). To understand the effects of these particles on weather and climate, both now and into the future, we must first develop a quantitative understanding of the major INP sources worldwide. Previous work has demonstrated that aerosols such as desert dusts are globally important INPs, but the role of biogenic INPs is unclear, with conflicting evidence for their importance. Here, we show that at a temperate site all INPs active above −18 °C at concentrations >0.1 L⁻¹ are destroyed on heating, consistent with these INPs being of biological origin. Furthermore, we show that a global model of desert dust INPs dramatically underestimates the measured INP concentrations, but is consistent with the thermally-stable component. Notably, the heat sensitive INPs are active at temperatures where shallow cloud layers in Northern Europe are frequently observed to glaciate. Hence, we suggest that biogenic material is important for primary ice production in this region. The prevalence of heat sensitive, most likely biogenic, INPs in this region highlights that, as a community, we need to quantify the sources and transport of these particles as well as determine their atmospheric abundance across the globe and at cloud altitudes.

Emotion Regulation and Parental Bonding in Families of Adolescents With Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms

Parental bonding and emotional regulation, while important to explain difficulties that may arise in child development, have mainly been studied at an individual level. The present study aims to examine alexithymia and parental bonding in families of adolescents with psychiatric disorders through different generations. The sample included a total of 102 adolescent patients with psychiatric disorders and their parents. In order to take a family level approach, a Latent Class Analysis was used to identify the latent relationships among alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale), perceived parental bonding (Parental Bonding Instrument) and the presence of adolescent internalizing or externalizing psychiatric symptoms (Youth Self-Report). Families of internalizing and externalizing adolescents present different and specific patterns of emotional regulation and parenting. High levels of adolescent alexithymia, along with a neglectful parenting style perceived by the adolescent and the father as well, characterized the families of patients with internalizing symptoms. On the other hand, in the families with externalizing adolescents, it was mainly the mother to remember an affectionless control parental style. These results suggest the existence of an intergenerational transmission of specific parental bonding, which may influence the emotional regulation and therefore the manifestation of psychiatric symptoms.

Unexpectedly rapid evolution of mandibular shape in hominins

Members of the hominins - namely the so-called 'australopiths' and the species of the genus Homo - are known to possess short and deep mandibles and relatively small incisors and canines. It is commonly assumed that this suite of traits evolved in early members of the clade in response to changing environmental conditions and increased consumption of though food items. With the emergence of Homo, the functional meaning of mandible shape variation is thought to have been weakened by technological advancements and (later) by the control over fire. In contrast to this expectation, we found that mandible shape evolution in hominins is exceptionally rapid as compared to any other primate clade, and that the direction and rate of shape change (from the ape ancestor) are no different between the australopiths and Homo. We deem several factors including the loss of honing complex, canine reduction, and the acquisition of different diets may have concurred in producing such surprisingly high evolutionary rates. This study reveals the evolution of mandibular shape in hominins has strong morpho-functional and ecological significance attached.

Phylogenetic fields through time: temporal dynamics of geographical co-occurrence and phylogenetic structure within species ranges

Species co-occur with different sets of other species across their geographical distribution, which can be either closely or distantly related. Such co-occurrence patterns and their phylogenetic structure within individual species ranges represent what we call the species phylogenetic fields (PFs). These PFs allow investigation of the role of historical processes--speciation, extinction and dispersal--in shaping species co-occurrence patterns, in both extinct and extant species. Here, we investigate PFs of large mammalian species during the last 3 Myr, and how these correlate with trends in diversification rates. Using the fossil record, we evaluate species' distributional and co-occurrence patterns along with their phylogenetic structure. We apply a novel Bayesian framework on fossil occurrences to estimate diversification rates through time. Our findings highlight the effect of evolutionary processes and past climatic changes on species' distributions and co-occurrences. From the Late Pliocene to the Recent, mammal species seem to have responded in an individualistic manner to climate changes and diversification dynamics, co-occurring with different sets of species from different lineages across their geographical ranges. These findings stress the difficulty of forecasting potential effects of future climate changes on biodiversity.

Progress to extinction: increased specialisation causes the demise of animal clades

Animal clades tend to follow a predictable path of waxing and waning during their existence, regardless of their total species richness or geographic coverage. Clades begin small and undifferentiated, then expand to a peak in diversity and range, only to shift into a rarely broken decline towards extinction. While this trajectory is now well documented and broadly recognised, the reasons underlying it remain obscure. In particular, it is unknown why clade extinction is universal and occurs with such surprising regularity. Current explanations for paleontological extinctions call on the growing costs of biological interactions, geological accidents, evolutionary traps, and mass extinctions. While these are effective causes of extinction, they mainly apply to species, not clades. Although mass extinctions is the undeniable cause for the demise of a sizeable number of major taxa, we show here that clades escaping them go extinct because of the widespread tendency of evolution to produce increasingly specialised, sympatric, and geographically restricted species over time.

From Evolutionary Allometry to Sexual Display: (A Reply to Holman and Bro-Jørgensen)

Conventional wisdom holds that the complex shapes of deer antlers are produced under the sole influence of sexual selection. We questioned this view by demonstrating that trends for increased body size evolution passively yield more-complex ornaments, even in organisms where no effect of sexual selection is possible, with similar allometric slopes. Recent investigations suggest that sexual selection on antlers of larger deer species is stronger than that in smaller species; hence, the use of conspicuous antlers for display in large male deer is a secondary function driven by especially intense sexual selection on these large-bodied species. Since ancestral deer were small and had very simple antlers, such an intense selection on antlers shape was probably absent in early deer. Therefore, the evolution of complex ornaments is coupled with body size evolution, even in deer.

Rest Rust ! Physical active for active and healthy ageing

The aim of this paper is to give an insight on how physical activity can be defined, parameterized and measured in older adults and on different options to deal with citizen physical activity promotion at European level. Three relevant aspects are highlighted: When talking about physical activity, two different aspects are often unfairly mixed up: "physical activity" and "physical capacity". Physical activity, is referred to as the level of physical activity someone is actually performing in daily life.Physical capacity is referred to as the maximum physical activity a person can perform.Both physical activity and physical capacity can be expressed in different dimensions such as time, frequency, or type of activity with the consequence that there are many tools and techniques available. In order to support people to choose an appropriate instrument in their everyday practice a list of 9 criteria that are considered important is defined.Older adults score differently across the various physical dimensions, so strategies to promote physical activity should consider individual differences, in order to adapt for these variations.

Rapid action in the Palaeogene, the relationship between phenotypic and taxonomic diversification in Coenozoic mammals

A classic question in evolutionary biology concerns the tempo and mode of lineage evolution. Considered variously in relation to resource utilization, intrinsic constraints or hierarchic level, the question of how evolutionary change occurs in general has continued to draw the attention of the field for over a century and a half. Here we use the largest species-level phylogeny of Coenozoic fossil mammals (1031 species) ever assembled and their body size estimates, to show that body size and taxonomic diversification rates declined from the origin of placentals towards the present, and very probably correlate to each other. These findings suggest that morphological and taxic diversifications of mammals occurred hierarchically, with major shifts in body size coinciding with the birth of large clades, followed by taxonomic diversification within these newly formed clades. As the clades expanded, rates of taxonomic diversification proceeded independently of phenotypic evolution. Such a dynamic is consistent with the idea, central to the Modern Synthesis, that mammals radiated adaptively, with the filling of adaptive zones following the radiation.

Ecological specialization in fossil mammals explains Cope's rule

Cope's rule is the trend toward increasing body size in a lineage over geological time. The rule has been explained either as passive diffusion away from a small initial body size or as an active trend upheld by the ecological and evolutionary advantages that large body size confers. An explicit and phylogenetically informed analysis of body size evolution in Cenozoic mammals shows that body size increases significantly in most inclusive clades. This increase occurs through temporal substitution of incumbent species by larger-sized close relatives within the clades. These late-appearing species have smaller spatial and temporal ranges and are rarer than the incumbents they replace, traits that are typical of ecological specialists. Cope's rule, accordingly, appears to derive mainly from increasing ecological specialization and clade-level niche expansion rather than from active selection for larger size. However, overlain on a net trend toward average size increase, significant pulses in origination of large-sized species are concentrated in periods of global cooling. These pulses plausibly record direct selection for larger body size according to Bergmann's rule, which thus appears to be independent of but concomitant with Cope's.

Habitat tracking, stasis and survival in Neogene large mammals

Species response to environmental change may vary from adaptation to the new conditions, to dispersal towards territories with better ecological settings (known as habitat tracking), and to extinction. A phylogenetically explicit analysis of habitat tracking in Caenozoic large mammals shows that species moving over longer distances during their existence survived longer. By partitioning the fossil record into equal time intervals, we showed that the longest distance was preferentially covered just before extinction. This supports the idea that habitat tracking is a key reaction to environmental change, and confirms that tracking causally prolongs species survival. Species covering longer distances also have morphologically less variable cheek teeth. Given the tight relationship between cheek teeth form and habitat selection in large mammals, this supports the well-known, yet little tested, idea that habitat tracking bolsters morphological stasis.

A technique for treating patello-femoral instability in immature patients: the tibial tubercle periosteum transfer

Patello-femoral problems are frequently encountered in knee clinic. The most important role of the patella is to increase the quadriceps efficiency, although this function could be altered in the patello-femoral instability. Active stability of the patello-femoral joint is provided by the surrounding muscles and ligaments, passive stability is provided by the bony and cartilage structures. Patellofemoral instability is defined, from Henry Dejour, as a disease without engagement the patella in the femoral trochlea during knee range of motion. Every time should be performed careful radiological preoperative investigations (radiographs and computed tomography) involving an expert musculoskeletal radiologist. Surgical procedures may be divided into those that address the soft tissues (muscles and ligaments), generally on the immature skeletal, and those that effect bony changes, generally on the mature skeletal; sometimes, it is necessary to combine soft-tissue and bony procedures. In this report, the authors describe a tibial tubercle periosteum transfer technique for patello-femoral instability in immature patients, which may potentially improve clinical results in very young symptomatic patients with patello-femoral instability.

Longer in the tooth, shorter in the record? The evolutionary correlates of hypsodonty in Neogene ruminants

The acquisition of hypsodont molars is often regarded as a key innovation in the history of ruminant ungulates. Hypsodont ruminants diversified rapidly during the later Neogene, circa 15-2 Myr ago, and came to dominate the ruminant fossil record in terms of species diversity. Here we show that hypsodont clades had higher speciation and diversification rates than other clades. Hypsodont species had, on average, shorter stratigraphic durations, smaller range size and lower occupancy than non-hypsodont species. Within hypsodont clades, some species were very common and acquired large geographical ranges, whereas others were quite rare and geographically limited. We argue that hypsodont clades diversified in an adaptive radiation-like fashion, with species often splitting cladogenetically while still in the expansive phase of their occupancy history.

The blue lizard spandrel and the island syndrome

BACKGROUND

Many small vertebrates on islands grow larger, mature later, lay smaller clutches/litters, and are less sexually dimorphic and aggressive than their mainland relatives. This set of observations is referred to as the 'Island Syndrome'. The syndrome is linked to high population density on islands. We predicted that when population density is low and/or fluctuating insular vertebrates may evolve correlated trait shifts running opposite to the Island Syndrome, which we collectively refer to as the 'reversed island syndrome' (RIS) hypothesis. On the proximate level, we hypothesized that RIS is caused by increased activity levels in melanocortin receptors. Melanocortins are postranslational products of the proopiomelanocortin gene, which controls pleiotropically pigmentation, aggressiveness, sexual activity, and food intake in vertebrates.

RESULTS

We tested the RIS hypothesis performing a number of behavioral, genetic, and ontogenetic tests on a blue colored insular variant of the Italian Wall lizard Podarcis sicula, living on a small island off the Southern Italian coast. The population density of this blue-colored variant was generally low and highly fluctuating from one year to the next.In keeping with our predictions, insular lizards were more aggressive and sexually dimorphic than their mainland relatives. Insular males had wide, peramorphic heads. The growth rate of insular females was slower than growth rates of mainland individuals of both sexes, and of insular males. Consequently, size and shape dimorphism are higher on the Island. As predicted, melanocortin receptors were much more active in individuals of the insular population. Insular lizards have a higher food intake rate than mainland individuals, which is consistent with the increased activity of melanocortin receptors. This may be adaptive in an unpredictable environment such as Licosa Island. Insular lizards of both sexes spent less time basking than their mainland relatives. We suspect this is a by-product (spandrel) of the positive selection for increased activity of melanocortins receptors.

CONCLUSIONS

We contend that when population density is either low or fluctuating annually as a result of environmental unpredictability, it may be advantageous to individuals to behave more aggressively, to raise their rate of food intake, and allocate more energy into reproduction.

The shape of contention: adaptation, history, and contingency in ungulate mandibles

Mandibles and teeth of ungulates have been extensively studied to discern the functional significance of their design. Grazing ungulates have deeper mandibles, longer coronoid processes, flatter incisor arcades, and more hypsodont molars in comparison to browsers. If the functional significance of both mandible and teeth shapes is well-established, it remains uncertain to what extent mandible shapes are really adapted to grazing, meaning that they evolved either to serve their current biological function or just as a structural requirement to accommodate higher crowned molars. Here, we address this question by studying the contribution of phylogeny, hypsodonty, and body size to mandibular shape variation. The mandible shape appeared to be significantly influenced by hypsodonty but not by body size. Interestingly, hypsodonty-related changes influenced the tooth row in artiodactyls and perissodactyls significantly but in the opposite directions, which is ultimately related to their different digestive strategies. Yet, we obtained a strong phylogenetic effect in perissodactyls, suggesting that their mandible shape should be strongly inherited. The strength of this effect was not significant within artiodactyls (where hypsodonty explained much more variance in mandible shape). Digestive strategy is deemed to interplay with hypsodonty to produce different paths of adaptation to particular diets in ungulates.

Activatory Properties of Lysophosphatidic Acid on Human THP-1 Cells

Excessive leukocyte proliferation and proinflammatory mediators release represent common phenomena in several chronic inflammatory diseases. Multiple evidences identify lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a small lipid endowed with pleiotropic activities, as an important modulator of both proliferation and activation of different cell types involved in several inflammation-associated pathologies. However, its possible role on monocyte proinflammatory activation is not fully understood yet. Aim of the present study was to investigate LPA effects on THP-1 cells in terms of proliferation, reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) production and release of arachidonic acid-derived inflammatory mediators. Actually, LPA significantly increased both DNA synthesis and ROI production as well as prostaglandin E(2) release and the upregulation of LPA(3) receptor expression. These findings identified LPA as both a growth factor and a triggering mediator of proinflammatory response in THP-1 cells.

Activatory properties of lysophosphatidic acid on human THP-1 cells

Excessive leukocyte proliferation and proinflammatory mediators release represent common phenomena in several chronic inflammatory diseases. Multiple evidences identify lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a small lipid endowed with pleiotropic activities, as an important modulator of both proliferation and activation of different cell types involved in several inflammation-associated pathologies. However, its possible role on monocyte proinflammatory activation is not fully understood yet. Aim of the present study was to investigate LPA effects on THP-1 cells in terms of proliferation, reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) production and release of arachidonic acid-derived inflammatory mediators. Actually, LPA significantly increased both DNA synthesis and ROI production as well as prostaglandin E(2) release and the upregulation of LPA(3) receptor expression. These findings identified LPA as both a growth factor and a triggering mediator of proinflammatory response in THP-1 cells.

[Risk stratification after acute myocardial infarction: limitations of dobutamine stress echocardiography in females]

BACKGROUND

Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is an imaging test widely used for risk stratification of patients after acute myocardial infarction.

METHODS

We evaluated the sensitivity of DSE with respect to the gender and the stenotic coronary artery in patients who survived a myocardial infarction and with angiographic evidence of single-vessel coronary artery disease.

RESULTS

The sensitivity of DSE was generally low. In particular, it was significantly lower in the presence of stenosis of the left circumflex and right coronary arteries with respect to the left anterior descending coronary artery. In females it was lower, especially when the stenosis involved the right coronary and left circumflex arteries.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that in female gender the use of other imaging tests and particularly of coronarography should be strongly recommended for risk stratification after acute myocardial infarction.

[Infusion of flecainide in a patient with atrial fibrillation and latent Brugada's syndrome has determined modifications of the electrocardiogram similar to those of a septal myocardial infarct]

ST-segment elevation in the presence of typical chest pain is a fundamental criterion for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. We describe the case of a 62-year-old male with latent Brugada syndrome in whom the intravenous infusion of flecainide for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation caused ECG abnormalities similar to those of an acute septal myocardial infarction. The patient was not submitted to systemic thrombolysis since accurate echocardiographic evaluation was not suggestive of the presence of any wall motion abnormality and blood analysis did not reveal any increase in the levels of myocardial enzymes. The clinical outcome was not complicated and the patient was finally discharged.

Insulin deficiency and reduced expression of lipogenic enzymes in cardiomyopathic hamster

Evidence is given that the heart of the cardiomyopathic UM-X7.1 hamster has a lipid composition different from that of the same tissue isolated from animals of the Syrian hamster parent strain. Also, noncardiac tissues from cardiomyopathic and healthy hamsters exhibit significant compositional differences. On the basis of these preliminary observations, a comparative study of the hepatic biosynthesis of lipids in cardiomyopathic and healthy Syrian hamsters was undertaken. The results obtained indicate that the cardiomyopathic hamster is characterized by a generalized disturbance of lipid metabolism. In particular, the fatty acid synthase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase activities were significantly lower in the liver of UM-X7.1 hamsters than in age-matched healthy controls fed the same diet. Northern blot analysis of the mRNAs encoding the two enzymatic proteins and the "lipogenic" S14 nuclear protein indicated that the transcription of the respective genes was impaired in UM-X7.1.Short-term dietary manipulations modulated the expression of the above-mentioned genes both in cardiomyopathic and healthy animals. However, dietary carbohydrates were less effective in inducing the expression of lipogenic enzymes in UM-X7.1 liver than healthy controls. The main determinant of the metabolic defect pointed out in the present work appears to be represented by the low insulin level detectable in the plasma of the cardiomyopathic hamster.-Vecchini, A., L. Binaglia, M. Bibeau, M. Minieri, F. Carotenuto, and P. Di Nardo. Insulin deficiency and reduced expression of lipogenic enzymes in cardiomyopathic hamster. J. Lipid Res. 2001. 42: 96;-105.

Mucin-producing cells and endocrine cells of gallbladder epithelium in patients with uncomplicated cholelithiasis

In this study we have investigated various morphofunctional features of gallbladder mucosa in patients with uncomplicated cholelithiasis. The histological changes, endocrine cell types and their distribution, and mucin-producing cells were characterized by immunocytochemistry and mucin histochemistry; moreover, we attempted to correlate these findings to the number and size of gallbladder stones and the type of bacteria present in the bile. Our results indicate that, despite similar clinical parameters, a wide range of histological changes can occur in the gallbladder mucosa of these patients. Moreover, the presence of certain endocrine and mucin-producing cell types in so-called "pyloric metaplasia" led us to hypothesize that this finding may be a trivial event in the gallbladder epithelium.

[Functional changes in the biliary system following extrahepatic biliary obstruction]

To assess the potential structural changes of the biliary tree and liver in patients with extrahepatic biliary obstruction, the resected specimens of 20 patients operated for benign biliary stricture were evaluated by means of immunocytochemical and histological methods. Furthermore, liver biopsies were taken for the same purposes. The results showed that in the dilated segment of the hepatic duct proximal to the stricture, innervation was greatly reduced or completely absent with associated advanced morphological and histological changes and high intrabiliary pressure levels. Similar findings were observed in the liver biopsies, too. These biopsies showed advanced morphological and histological changes associated with reduced innervation. By contrast, the nondilated segment of the hepatic duct, distal to the obstruction, showed normal innervation, normal morphology and histology and normal levels of intrabiliary pressure. The present study provides evidence that in cases of extrahepatic biliary obstruction, there are advanced pathological changes in the biliary tree associated with innervation impairment. These structural changes are associated with functional changes in both the liver and the biliary tree. Such functional changes represent a threat to the patient, particularly if major surgery is required. Increased biliary pressure appears to be a major cause of the development of these changes. Biliary drainage, either surgical or endoscopic, is indicated as the only alternative to reduce intrabiliary pressure and to contribute to a reversal of these structural and functional changes.

[Muciparous cells and endocrine cells of the gallbladder epithelium in patients with uncomplicated cholelithiasis]

In this study the authors have investigated the different morphofunctional features of the gallbladder mucosa in patients with uncomplicated cholelithiasis. Histological changes, type and distribution of endocrine and mucin-producing cells were characterized by immunocytochemistry and mucin histochemistry. The authors attempted to correlate these findings to the number and size of gallbladder stones as well as type of bacteria present in the bile. The results indicate that, despite similar clinical parameters, a wide range of histological changes may occur in the gallbladder mucosa of these patients. Moreover, the presence of some endocrine and mucin-producing cell types in the so called "pyloric metaplasia" led the Authors to hypothesize that the latter may be a trivial event.