On the presence of the alien exotic sap beetle Phenolia (Lasiodites) picta (Macleay, 1825) (Coleoptera Nitidulidae) in Italy

The exotic sap beetle Phenolia (Lasiodites) picta (W.S. Macleay, 1825) (Coleoptera Nitidulidae) is an alien species recently recorded in Europe (Spain, France, and Greece), and Turkey. For Italy, only a single record of P. cf. picta is reported from Sicily. In this paper, we studied this specimen confirming the presence of P. picta in Italy

SICILIAN NATURALISTIC NEWS: 22 Dilophus bispinosus; 23 Leptometopa latipes; 24 Syntormon mikii; 25 Morophaga morella.

Diptera Bibionidae, Diptera Milichiidae, Diptera Dolichopodidae, Lepidoptera Tineida

SICILIAN NATURALISTIC NEWS: 11 Aclista alticollis; 12 Mycomya (Mycomya) prominens; 13 Empis (Leptempis) confusa; 14 Sciapus platypterus; 15 Myopa picta; 16 Diaea dorsata; 17 Franklinothrips megalops; 18 Dasyhelea bilineata; 19 Forcipomyia (Synthridomyia) murina; 20 Forcipomyia (Euprojoannisia) psilonota; 21 Incertana drepanensis

SICILIAN NATURALISTIC NEWS: 11 Aclista alticollis; 12 Mycomya (Mycomya) prominens; 13 Empis (Leptempis) confusa; 14 Sciapus platypterus; 15 Myopa picta; 16 Diaea dorsata; 17 Franklinothrips megalops; 18 Dasyhelea bilineata; 19 Forcipomyia (Synthridomyia) murina; 20 Forcipomyia (Euprojoannisia) psilonota; 21 Incertana drepanensi

Mouse Plasminogen Has Oxidized Phosphatidylcholine Adducts That Are Not Metabolized by Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 under Basal Conditions

We previously showed that plasminogen (Plg) isolated from the plasma of normal human subjects contains 1–2 moles of oxidized phosphatidylcholine (oxPtdPC) adducts/mole of protein. Moreover, we suggested that these species are generated at the hepatic site and speculated that they may play a role in the reported cardiovascular pathogenicity of Plg. We aimed to determine whether mouse Plg also harbors linked oxPtdPCs and whether these molecules are metabolized by lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2/PAF acetylhydrolase (Lp-PLA2/PAF-AH), an enzyme specific for hydrolysis of oxPtdPCs. We determined the total concentration of Plg in plasma samples from control (WT) and Lp-PLA2-deficient (KO) mice, we isolated Plg, and assessed its content of oxPtdPCs by immunoblot analyses. We also evaluated whether human recombinant Lp-PLA2 metabolized Plg-linked oxPtdPCs in vivo and in vitro. WT and KO mice expressed comparable levels (14.4–15.8 mg/dL) of plasma Plg, as determined by ELISA. We observed no differences in the content of oxPtdPC in Plg isolated from the two mouse strains and in parallel no changes in oxPtdPC content in mouse Plg following incubation with pure recombinant Lp-PLA2. Plg from mouse plasma contains oxPtdPC adducts that are not affected by the action of Lp-PLA2, suggesting that linkage to Plg protects oxPtdPCs from metabolism during their transport in the plasma. This modification may have important physio-pathological implications related to the function of Plg, oxPtdPCs, or both

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of diagnostic methods in adult food allergy

Food allergy has an increasing prevalence in the general population and in Italy concerns 8 % of people with allergies. The spectrum of its clinical manifestations ranges from mild symptoms up to potentially fatal anaphylactic shock. A number of patients can be diagnosed easily by the use of first- and second-level procedures (history, skin tests and allergen specific IgE). Patients with complex presentation, such as multiple sensitizations and pollen-food syndromes, frequently require a third-level approach including molecular diagnostics, which enables the design of a component-resolved sensitization profile for each patient. The use of such techniques involves specialists' and experts' skills on the issue to appropriately meet the diagnostic and therapeutic needs of patients. Particularly, educational programs for allergists on the use and interpretation of molecular diagnostics are needed

SICILIAN NATURALISTIC NEWS: 8 Muscicapa striata tyrrhenica; 9 Garella (Characoma) nilotica; 10 Mycterus curculioides

SICILIAN NATURALISTIC NEWS: 8 Mediterranean Flycatcher Muscicapa striata tyrrhenica Schiebel, 1910 (Aves Muscicapidae); 9) Garella (Characoma) nilotica (Rogenhofer, 1881) (Lepidoptera Nolidae); 10) Mycterus curculioides Fabricius, 1781 (Coleoptera Mycteridae

On some new reports on the spider fauna of Italy and Sicily (Arachnida Araneae)

New spiders (Arachnida Araneae) from Sicily (Italy) are reported, some new for Italy, in this paper. Particularly, twelve genera and sixteen new species are examined: Agelena orientalis C.L. Koch, 1837; Cyclosa algerica Simon, 1885; Larinia lineata (Lucas, 1846); Argenna patula (Simon, 1874), Lathys arabs Simon, 1910, Marilynia bicolor (Simon, 1870), Canariphantes zonatus (Simon, 1884), Cresmatoneta mutinensis (Canestrini, 1868), Diplocephalus graecus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1873), Lepthyphantes leprosus (Ohlert, 1865), Ostearius melanopygius (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1880), Pelecopsis bucephala (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1875), Pelecopsis inedita (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1875), Lasaeola convexa (Blackwall, 1870), Neottiura uncinata (Lucas, 1846) and Ruborridion musivum (Simon, 1873). Additional biological and taxonomic notes are also provided

SICILIAN NATURALISTIC NEWS: 3 Hermetia illucens; 4 Ancylolomia tripolitella; 5 Gavia immer; 6 Bucanetes githagineus; 7 Clubonia terrestris

SICILIAN NATURALISTIC NEWS: 3 Hermetia illucens; 4 Ancylolomia tripolitella; 5 Gavia immer; 6 Bucanetes githagineus; 7 Clubonia terrestri