Some Bryozoa species recently introduced into the Azores: reproductive strategies as a proxy for further spread

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The non-indigenous Paranthura japonica Richardson, 1909 in the Mediterranean Sea: travelling with shellfish?

An anthurid isopod new to the Mediterranean Sea has recently been observed in samples from three localities of the Italian coast: the Lagoon of Venice (North Adriatic Sea), La Spezia (Ligurian Sea) and Olbia (Sardinia, Tyrrhenian Sea). The specimens collected showed strong affinity to a species originally described from the NW Pacific Ocean: Paranthura japonica Richardson, 1909. The comparison with specimens collected from the Bay of Arcachon (Atlantic coast of France), where P. japonica had been recently reported as non-indigenous, confirmed the identity of the species. This paper reports the most relevant morphological details of the Italian specimens, data on the current distribution of the species and a discussion on the pathways responsible for its introduction. The available data suggest that the presence of this Pacific isopod in several regions of coastal Europe might be due to a series of aquaculture-mediated introduction events that occurred during the last decades of the 1900s. Since then, established populations of P. japonica, probably misidentified, remained unnoticed for a long time

European Non-native Species in Aquaculture Risk Analysis Scheme - a summary of assessment protocols and decision support tools for use of alien species in aquaculture

The European Non-native Species in Aquaculture Risk Analysis Scheme (ENSARS) was developed in response to European 'Council Regulation No. 708/2007 of 11 June 2007 concerning use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture' to provide protocols for identifying and evaluating the potential risks of using non-native species in aquaculture. ENSARS is modular in structure and adapted from non-native species risk assessment schemes developed by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation and for the UK. Seven of the eight ENSARS modules contain protocols for evaluating the risks of escape, introduction to and establishment in open waters, of any non-native aquatic organism being used (or associated with those used) in aquaculture, that is, transport pathways, rearing facilities, infectious agents, and the potential organism, ecosystem and socio-economic impacts. A concluding module is designed to summarise the risks and consider management options. During the assessments, each question requires the assessor to provide a response and confidence ranking for that response based on expert opinion. Each module can also be used individually, and each requires a specific form of expertise. Therefore, a multidisciplinary assessment team is recommended for its completion

First-line imatinib vs second- and third-generation TKIs for chronic-phase CML: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Imatinib, the first tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), improves overall survival (OS), but the introduction of newer TKIs requires the definition of the optimal first-line TKI for newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic-phase (CP) CML. This systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compares the efficacy and safety of imatinib vs second-generation (dasatinib, nilotinib, bosutinib) and third-generation TKIs (ponatinib) in adults with newly diagnosed Ph+ CP CML, concentrating on OS, progression-free survival (PFS), and hematological and nonhematological adverse events. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) method. Seven RCTs published between 1990 and 2019 (involving 3262 participants) satisfied the eligibility criteria. Two RCTs (imatinib vs nilotinib and imatinib vs dasatinib) found no difference in 5-year OS or PFS. Second- and third-generation TKIs improved 3-month major molecular responses (relative risk [RR], 4.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.20-8.32) and other efficacy outcomes, decreased accelerated/blastic-phase transformations (RR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.26-0.74), but were associated with more cases of thrombocytopenia (RR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.20-2.05), cardiovascular events (RR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.49-4.33), and pancreatic (RR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.32-3.96) and hepatic effects (RR, 3.51; 95% CI 1.55-7.92). GRADE showed that the certainty of the evidence ranged from high to moderate. This study shows that, in comparison with imatinib, second- and third-generation TKIs improve clinical responses, but the safer toxicity profile of imatinib may make it a better option for patients with comorbidities

ICES Viewpoint background document: Evaluating and mitigating introduction of marine non-native species via vessel biofouling

Biofouled vessels create novel, mobile habitats characterized by great abundances of opportunistic and non-native species. Vessel biofouling1 affects the environment as well as the economics of vessel management..

Invisibility in global health: a case for disturbing bioethical frameworks

In recent years, the global health community has been increasingly reporting the problem of ‘invisibility’ as aspects of health and wellbeing that are often overlooked and ignored, and predominantly affects the most marginalized and precarious people. However, it is unclear how to realistically manage global health invisibility and move forward. In this letter, we reflect on several case studies of invisibility experienced by people in Brazil, Malaysia, West Africa and other transnational contexts. Highlighting the complex nature of invisibility and its interconnectedness with social, political and economic issues and trends, we argue that while local and targeted interventions might provide relief and comfort locally, they will not be able to solve the underlying causes of invisibility. Moving forward, we argue that in dealing with an intersectional issue such as invisibility, twenty-first century global health bioethics could pursue a more ‘disturbing’ framework, challenging the narrow comforting solutions and sociomaterial inequalities of the sociopolitical status quo. We highlight that comforting and disturbing bioethical frameworks should not be considered as opposing sides, but as two approaches working in tandem in order to achieve the internationally set global health milestones of providing better health and wellbeing for everyone. In doing so, we call for taking seriously insights from sociology, anthropology, postcolonial studies, history, feminist studies and other styles of critical reasoning that have long been disturbing the grand assumptions about people and their conditions, and, practically, to rediscover the ethos of the WHO Alma Ata Declaration, calling for cooperation and support beyond the narrow market logic that dominates the landscape of contemporary global health

Subxiphoid completion thymectomy for refractory non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis

Background: Completion thymectomy may be performed in patients with non-thymomatous refractory myasthenia gravis (MG) to allow a complete and definitive clearance from residual thymic tissue located in the mediastinum or in lower neck. Hereby we present our short- and long-term results of completion thymectomy using subxiphoid video-assisted thoracoscopy.Methods: Between July 2010 and December 2017, 15 consecutive patients with refractory non-thymomatous myasthenia, 8 women and 7 men with a median age of 44 [interquartile range (IQR) 38.5-53.5] years, underwent video-thoracoscopic completion thymectomy through a subxiphoid approach.Results: Positron emission tomography (PET) showed mildly avid areas [standardized uptake value (SUV) more than or equal to 1.8] in 11 instances. Median operative time was 106 (IQR, 77-141) minutes. No operative deaths nor major morbidity occurred. Mean 1-day postoperative Visual Analogue Scale value was 2.53 +/- 0.63. Median hospital stay was 2 (IQR, 1-3.5) days. A significant decrease of the anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies was observed after 1 month [median percentage changes -67% (IQR, -39% to -83%)]. Median follow-up was 45 (IQR, 21-58) months. At the most recent follow-up complete stable remission was achieved in 5 patients. Another 9 patients had significant improvement in bulbar and limb function, requiring lower doses of corticosteroids and anticholinesterase drugs. Only one patient remained clinically stable albeit drug doses were reduced. One-month postoperative drop of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies was significantly correlated with complete stable remission (P=0.002).Conclusions: This initial experience confirms that removal of ectopic and residual thymus through a subxiphoid approach can reduce anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody titer correlating to good outcome of refractory MG