The Effects of Non-Indigenous Macrophytes on Native Biodiversity: Case Studies from Sicily

Biological invasions are widely recognized as a major threat to native biodiversity, ecosys tem functioning and services. Non-indigenous species (NIS) may in time become invasive (invasive alien species (IAS)), determining significant environmental, socioeconomic and human health impacts such as biodiversity loss and ecosystem service degradation. The Mediterranean islands, particu larly Sicily and the circum-Sicilian islands (northwestern Mediterranean Sea), which are important hotspots of biodiversity, are notably vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures such as biological in vasions. Therefore, monitoring NIS distribution as well as understanding their effects on native biodiversity is critical in these areas for planning effective conservation strategies. Here, we report four different case studies from Sicily that highlight how NIS may affect native biodiversity and habitats. The first three case studies were carried out within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and highlight (1) the ability of Caulerpa cylindracea to promote the establishment of other NIS, including biofouling worms belonging to the genus Branchiomma; (2) how the shift in habitat from the native Ericaria brachycarpa to the invasive Asparagopsis taxiformis may drastically erode the primary producer biomass and associated biodiversity; and (2) that the presence of Lophocladia lallemandii can affect the molluscan assemblage inhabiting the canopy-forming Gongolaria montagnei. The fourth case study, performed along the northwestern coast of Sicily, shows how Halophila stipulacea can affect the growth of the co-occurring native seagrass Cymodocea nodosa. Overall, these case studies demonstrate various ways in which NIS can interact with native biodiversity and habitats. Furthermore, they emphasize that MPAs are ineffective at preventing the introduction and spread of NIS

DISTRIBUTION AND CONSERVATION NEEDS OF A NEGLECTED ECOSYSTEM: THE MEDITERRANEAN VERMETID REEF

Vermetid reefs are a key intertidal habitat in the Mediterranean. Despite recent evidence of local extinction in the Eastern Mediterranean, their role as habitat engineers and the high numbers of ecosystem services they provide, vermetid reefs are among the least known marine habitats of the Mediterranean. Here we present a literature-based study to assess for the first time their distribution inside the basin and provide evidence of a general lack of protection at Mediterranean scale

Lipoprotein metabolism in familial hypercholesterolemia

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is one of the most common genetic disorders in humans. It is an extremely atherogenic metabolic disorder characterized by lifelong elevations of circulating LDL-C levels often leading to premature cardiovascular events. In this review, we discuss the clinical phenotypes of heterozygous and homozygous FH, the genetic variants in four genes (LDLR/APOB/PCSK9/LDLRAP1) underpinning the FH phenotype as well as the most recent in vitro experimental approaches used to investigate molecular defects affecting the LDL receptor pathway. In addition, we review perturbations in the metabolism of lipoproteins other than LDL in FH, with a major focus on lipoprotein (a). Finally, we discuss the mode of action and efficacy of many of the currently approved hypocholesterolemic agents used to treat patients with FH, with a special emphasis on the treatment of phenotypically more severe forms of FH. © 2021 THE AUTHORS

Muscle damage and repeated bout effect induced by enhanced eccentric squats

BACKGROUND: Muscle damage and repeated bout effect have been studied after pure eccentric-only exercise. The aim of this study was to evaluate muscle damage and repeated bout effect induced by enhanced eccentric squat exercise using flywheel device. METHODS: Thirteen healthy males volunteered for this study. Creatine kinase blood activity (CK), quadriceps isometric peak torque and muscle soreness were used as markers of muscle damage. The dependent parameters were measured at baseline, immediately after and each day up to 96 hours after the exercise session. The intervention consisted of 100 repetitions of enhanced eccentric squat exercise using flywheel device. The same protocol was repeated after 4 weeks. RESULTS: After the first bout, CK and muscle soreness were significantly greater (P<0.05) than baseline respectively up to 72 and 96 hours. Isometric peak torque was significantly lower (P<0.05) up to 72 hours. After the second bout, CK showed no significant increase (P>0.05), while isometric peak torque and muscle soreness returned to values similar to baseline after respectively 48 and 72 hours. All muscle damage markers were significantly lower after second compared to first bout. CONCLUSIONS: The enhanced eccentric exercise induced symptoms of muscle damage up to 96 hours. However, it provided muscle protection after the second bout, performed four weeks later. Although it was not eccentric-only exercise, the enhancement of eccentric phase provided muscle protection

Effects of Tenebrio molitor larvae meal inclusion in rainbow trout feed: myogenesis-related gene expression and histomorphological features

The effects of Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TM) dietary inclusion in rainbow trout diet were evaluated on muscular growth using gene expression and histomorphological features of liver, spleen, kidney, anterior and posterior gut through histopathological analyses. Two hundred fifty-two grow-out rainbow trout were fed four experimental diets containing increasing levels of TM: 0% (TM0), 5% (TM25), 10% (TM50), and 20% (TM100) corresponding to different levels of fish meal replacement (0, 25, 50, and 100%, respectively). Muscular growth was evaluated analysing the expression of various genes involved in different steps of myogenesis. Among the analysed genes, only MyoD expression resulted significantly higher in fish fed TM100 compared to fish fed TM0. The gut histomorphology was not affected by TM dietary inclusion and villus height differs from anterior and posterior segments regardless of the fed diet. Histopathological alterations were observed in all the sampled organs for all the dietary treatments; however, dietary TM inclusion did not influence either development or severity of the observed histopathological changes. The results obtained confirmed the safe utilisation of TM as an alternative protein source in rainbow trout diets and highlighted the necessity to deepen the studies of TM effect on the myogenesis process, especially at a molecular level.Highlights Rainbow trout can effectively be fed with a TM protein source. Total FM substitution by TM (TM100) decreased MyoD gene expression. Increasing TM dietary inclusion did not influence gut histomorphology

Submarine Geomorphology and Sedimentary Features around the Egadi Islands (Western Mediterranean Sea)

The physiography, the geomorphological features and the sedimentary bedforms offshore Egadi Islands (Italy) have been illustrated and mapped through an integrated analysis of high-resolution bathymetric, seismo-acoustic and sedimentological data. The study area is characterized by a wide, up to 25 km, continental shelf which is separated by a NNW trending linear incision, the Marettimo Channel, along which several erosional and depositional features have been detected and mapped. Sedimentary prograding wedges were detected at water depths between 100-125 m along the shelf margin, which accumulated during sea level fall and lowstand stages of the last glacio-eustatic cycle (post- MIS 5.5). The study detected several slope breaks defining scarps across the continental shelf, which were interpreted as coastal cliffs that originated during the post-LGM eustatic sea level rise. Several fields of different types of sedimentary bedforms, including 2-D and 3-D hydraulic dunes and sorted bedforms, were found across the continental shelf, providing evidence of a high hydrodynamic regime affecting the seafloor. Further on, the study recognized erosive and depositional features related to bottom currents (contourites) in the Marettimo Channel. These findings provide a better understanding of the morpho-sedimentary evolution of the Egadi Islands offshore in the latest Quaternary. Moreover, they offer essential scientific support for effectively managing the most valuable priority habitats for conservation , such as Posidonia oceanica meadow and coralline algae bioconstructions (Coralligenous habitat)

Influence of physician empathy on the outcome of botulinum toxin treatment for upper limb spasticity in patients with chronic stroke: A cohort study.

To examine the relationship between patient-rated physician empathy and outcome of botulinum toxin treatment for post-stroke upper limb spasticity.Cohort study.Twenty chronic stroke patients with upper limb spasticity.All patients received incobotulinumtoxinA injection in at least one muscle for each of the following patterns: flexed elbow, flexed wrist and clenched fist. Each treatment was performed by 1 of 5 physiatrists with equivalent clinical experience. Patient-rated physician empathy was quantified with the Consultation and Relational Empathy Measure immediately after botulinum toxin treatment. Patients were evaluated before and at 4 weeks after botulinum toxin treatment by means of the following outcome measures: Modified Ashworth Scale; Wolf Motor Function Test; Disability Assessment Scale; Goal Attainment Scaling.Ordinal regression analysis showed a significant influence of patient-rated physician empathy (independent variable) on the outcome (dependent variables) of botulinum toxin treatment at 4 weeks after injection, as measured by Goal Attainment Scaling (p<0.001).These findings support the hypothesis that patient-rated physician empathy may influence the outcome of botulinum toxin treatment in chronic stroke patients with upper limb spasticity as measured by Goal Attainment Scaling