Determinazione del carvacrolo mediante HRGC-MS/FID nell'orata (Sparus aurata) di acquacoltura

Le proprietà antimicrobiche del carvacrolo sono state ampiamente descritte soprattutto sulla base di osservazioni in vitro. L’ampia diffusione “zootecnica” di Sparus aurata ha determinato in questi ultimi decenni il diffondersi di patologie batteriche come la pasteurellosi e la vibriosi. La sperimentazione è stata condotta per 45 giorni su orate (Sparus aurata) del peso medio di 150 g la cui razione alimentare giornaliera è stata incorporata con l’1% di carvacrolo, e su orate alimentate con il mangime base nello stesso periodo (gruppo controllo). La frazione lipidica è stata estratta dal muscolo mediante metodo di Folch modificato. L’identificazione del carvacrolo è stata effettuata via HRGC-MS. L’analisi quantitativa è stata valutata nelle stesse condizioni cromatografiche ma con detector a ionizzazione di fiamma (FID) in presenza di standard interno (n-dodecanolo). La procedura ha consentito il recupero del 98,97% circa del carvacrolo con un limite di rilevabilità pari a 0,5 ppm

A crisis of protection and safe passage: violence experienced by migrants/refugees travelling along the Western Balkan corridor to Northern Europe.

BACKGROUND: Pushed by ongoing conflicts and pulled by the desire for a better life, over one million migrants/refugees transited Balkan countries and arrived in Europe during 2015 and early 2016. To curb this influx, European countries instituted restrictive migration policies often characterized by building of razor-wire border fences and border closures. Among migrants/refugees who received mental health care in Serbia while travelling through Balkan countries to Northern Europe, we assessed the prevalence and patterns of violent events experienced including physical trauma. METHODS: A mixed methods study among migrants/refugees attending mobile mental health clinics run by Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) between July 2015 and June 2016, in Serbia - a main transit hub to European countries. Clinics were conducted according to MSF guidelines by experienced psychologists who were supported by cultural mediators. The main outcome measures were violent events and associated physical trauma. RESULTS: Of 992 migrants/refugees attending MSF mental health clinics, the majority (72%) were from Syria and Afghanistan and included vulnerable groups (14%) such as unaccompanied minors and pregnant women. The most frequent mental health symptoms/signs were anxiety (29%) and adjustment reactions (26%). Of the 992 migrants/refugees, 270 (27%) had experienced violent events during their journey. Signs of physical trauma due to acts of violence were seen in 223(22%) of the 992 individuals, 144 (65%) being perpetrated by State authorities and involving women (11%) and children (13%). Border closures along the Balkan route were associated with a dramatic decrease in registered migrants/refugee arrivals in Serbia. Conversely, among those that made it across the borders, an increasing linear trend in reported violent events was observed at MSF mental health clinics (X2 for linear trend, P <0 · 001). Qualitative evidence corroborated with quantitative findings. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one-in-three migrants/refugees seen in MSF clinics experienced violent events including physical trauma along their journey. State authorities, including those in European countries were the perpetrators in over half of such events which were associated with border closures. There is "a crisis of protection and safe passage" which needs to change towards one of respect for the principles of international human rights and refugee law

Trombofilia e tromboprofilassi in ostetricia e ginecologia

Il tromboembolismo venoso è tuttora la principale causa di mortalità e morbilità successiva ad intervento chirurgico ginecologico ed in associazione con la gravidanza e il parto. La gravidanza rappresenta un fattore di rischio sia per la trombosi venosa profonda che per il tromboembolismo polmonare. Questa è una review della letteratura sulla fisiopatologia, sui fattori di rischio, sulle scelte profilattiche e sul trattamento delle complicanze del tromboembolismo riguardo alla popolazione ostetrica e ginecologica generale. Senza la profilassi con LMWH il 30% delle pazienti è a rischio per trombosi venosa profonda e circa l’1% di queste morirà di embolia polmonare. Nell’ultima decade si è verificato un grande progresso nella diagnosi e nel trattamento della trombosi venosa profonda. La scoperta dei disordini genetici che predispongono allo sviluppo di eventi tromboembolici (trombofilia) ha cambiato la nostra posizione per quanto concerne la durata della terapia anticoagulante. Oggigiorno essa ha grande variabilità nella durata, da alcuni mesi a tutta la vita, in rapporto ai meccanismi che sottendono l’evento patologico. La trombofilia è responsabile del 30-50% degli aborti abituali, della gestosi severa, del distacco intempestivo di placenta normalmente inserta, dei parti pretermine. Pertanto, oggi strategie terapeutiche corrette possono determinare la prevenzione dei fallimenti riproduttivi causati dallo stato di trombofilia

Preliminary results of antimicrobial activity of bacteriocins secreted by lactic acid bacteria against mastitis pathogens

In the last thirty years antimicrobial peptides known as bacteriocins, that are secreted by strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), have been studied mainly in the dairy industry, for their antibacterial activity. Recently, their prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy against bacteria agents of dairy cow mastitis has been also demonstrated. Few studies have been performed about the efficacy of different bacteriocins in clinical and subclinical mastitis and as teat sealant. We tested 18 LAB strains for production of antibacterial metabolites after different culture times and with different extraction methods. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test of culture supernatants was performed using the microdilution broth method. Two strains (SC20 and LL11) showed antibacterial activity against different mastitis pathogens (S. agalactiae, S. uberis, S. aureus, E. faecalis and L. monocytogenes), but the efficacy changed in relation to the bacteria tested. The highest MIC values were achieved using LL11, after extraction of bacteriocins at ph 2. The most sensitive strains were S. agalactiae, which were inhibited at a dilution of 1:380, while all the other isolates showed variable sensitivity. Our results represent the starting point for further studies aimed to the development of non-antibiotic formulations as prophylactic and therapeutic tools in dairy cow mastitis. Antibacterial substances produced by LAB have the potential to reduce the use of antibiotics in the dairy farm, with a consequent reduction of the risk of residues for the consumer

Evaluation of the toxicity of synthetic pyrethroids to red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii, Girard 1852) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio, L. 1758)

The acute toxicity of three synthetic pyrethroids (Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin and Cyfluthrin) to red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and the mortality after long-term exposition of young common carp to Deltamethrin were determined in standardized laboratory tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of limiting the expansion of crayfish by the use of these compounds and the implications of their use on fish. Red swamp crayfish experienced high sensitivity to pyrethroids as expressed by the LC50-24h: 0.14 mu g/l for Cypermethrin, 0.17 mu g/l for Cyfluthrin and 0.22 mu g/l for Deltamethrin. No mortality was observed in common carp during the long term (24 days) exposure test at initial concentration of 22.0 mu g/1 of Deltamethrin. The concentrations of Deltamethrin in muscle of crayfish and common carp were under the limit of quantification of the gas-chromatographic method in all the tests. The results suggest that synthetic pyrethroids may be suitable to control or to eradicate nuisance populations of red swamp crayfish, in small and limited areas

EVALUATION OF THE TOXICITY OF SYNTHETIC PYRETHROIDS TO RED SWAMP CRAYFISH (PROCAMBARUS CLARKII, GIRARD 1852) AND COMMON CARP (CYPRINUS CARPIO, L. 1758)

The acute toxicity of three synthetic pyrethroids (Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin and Cyfluthrin) to red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and the mortality after long-term exposition of young common carp to Deltamethrin were determined in standardized laboratory tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of limiting the expansion of crayfish by the use of these compounds and the implications of their use on fish. Red swamp crayfish experienced high sensitivity to pyrethroids as expressed by the LC50-24h: 0.14 μg/l for Cypermethrin, 0.17 μg/l for Cyfluthrin and 0.22 μg/l for Deltamethrin. No mortality was observed in common carp during the long term (24 days) exposure test at initial concentration of 22.0 μg/l of Deltamethrin. The concentrations of Deltamethrin in muscle of crayfish and common carp were under the limit of quantification of the gas-chromatographic method in all the tests. The results suggest that synthetic pyrethroids may be suitable to control or to eradicate nuisance populations of red swamp crayfish, in small and limited areas