Moytirra: discovery of the first known deep-sea hydrothermal vent field on the slow-spreading mid-atlantic ridge north of the azores

Geological, biological, morphological, and hydrochemical data are presented for the newly discovered Moytirra vent field at 45 degrees N. This is the only high temperature hydrothermal vent known between the Azores and Iceland, in the North Atlantic and is located on a slow to ultraslowspreading mid-ocean ridge uniquely situated on the 300 m high fault scarp of the eastern axial wall, 3.5 km from the axial volcanic ridge crest. Furthermore, the Moytirra vent field is, unusually for tectonically controlled hydrothermal vents systems, basalt hosted and perched midway up on the median valley wall and presumably heated by an off-axis magma chamber. The Moytirra vent field consists of an alignment of four sites of venting, three actively emitting "black smoke," producing a complex of chimneys and beehive diffusers. The largest chimney is 18 m tall and vigorously venting. The vent fauna described here are the only ones documented for the North Atlantic (Azores to Reykjanes Ridge) and significantly expands our knowledge of North Atlantic biodiversity. The surfaces of the vent chimneys are occupied by aggregations of gastropods (Peltospira sp.) and populations of alvinocaridid shrimp (Mirocaris sp. with Rimicaris sp. also present). Other fauna present include bythograeid crabs (Segonzacia sp.) and zoarcid fish (Pachycara sp.), but bathymodiolin mussels and actinostolid anemones were not observed in the vent field. The discovery of the Moytirra vent field therefore expands the known latitudinal distributions of several ventendemic genera in the north Atlantic, and reveals faunal affinities with vents south of the Azores rather than north of Iceland

Moytirra: Discovery of the first known deep-sea hydrothermal vent field on the slow-spreading Mid-Atlantic Ridge north of the Azores

Geological, biological, morphological, and hydrochemical data are presented for the newly discovered Moytirra vent field at 45oN. This is the only high temperature hydrothermal vent known between the Azores and Iceland, in the North Atlantic and is located on a slow to ultraslow-spreading mid-ocean ridge uniquely situated on the 300 m high fault scarp of the eastern axial wall, 3.5 km from the axial volcanic ridge crest. Furthermore, the Moytirra vent field is, unusually for tectonically controlled hydrothermal vents systems, basalt hosted and perched midway up on the median valley wall and presumably heated by an off-axis magma chamber. The Moytirra vent field consists of an alignment of four sites of venting, three actively emitting “black smoke,” producing a complex of chimneys and beehive diffusers. The largest chimney is 18 m tall and vigorously venting. The vent fauna described here are the only ones documented for the North Atlantic (Azores to Reykjanes Ridge) and significantly expands our knowledge of North Atlantic biodiversity. The surfaces of the vent chimneys are occupied by aggregations of gastropods (Peltospira sp.) and populations of alvinocaridid shrimp (Mirocaris sp. with Rimicaris sp. also present). Other fauna present include bythograeid crabs (Segonzacia sp.) and zoarcid fish (Pachycara sp.), but bathymodiolin mussels and actinostolid anemones were not observed in the vent field. The discovery of the Moytirra vent field therefore expands the known latitudinal distributions of several vent-endemic genera in the north Atlantic, and reveals faunal affinities with vents south of the Azores rather than north of Iceland

Correlation between the reflux finding score and the reflux symptom index in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux

LaryngoPharyngeal Reflux (LPR) is characterized by symptoms, signs, and/or tissue damage resulting from the aggression of the gastrointestinal contents in the upper airways. The Reflux Finding Score (RFS) assesses the laryngeal signs through laryngoscopy. The Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) scores the LPR symptoms. The objective of this real-world study was to compare RFS with RSI in a cohort of Italian LPR patients. Globally, 3932 patients with LPR were evaluated and RFS and RSI were assessed in all subjects. A moderate correlation was found between RSI and RFS (r=0.484, p<0.0001). In conclusion, the RSI and RFS can easily be included in the LPR work-up as objective and consistent parameters, with low cost and high practicality. Based on these clinical outcomes, the specialist can easily use these tests in clinical practice

Relieving laryngopharingeral reflux (relief) survey in otolaryngology - The viewpoint of the otorhinolaryngologist

none94noLaryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) should be considered as part of extraesophageal reflux (EER). This reflux involves respiratory structures other than, or in addition to, the oesophagus. A new medical device for the treatment of gastric reflux, including LPR, has been launched in Italy: Marial®. Therefore, the aim of the present survey was to analyse the prescriptive behaviour both considering the past or current treatments and clinical features during a specialist routine visit. The current survey was conducted in 86 Otorhinolaryngological centers, distributed in all of Italy. Globally, 4.418 subjects [47% males and 53% females, 50.1 (14.5) years-of-Age] were visited. The visits included laryngoscopy, Reflux Finding Score (RFS) and Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) questionnaires. The total RSI median score was 15 (12-19) and the total median RFS value was 10 (8-12). Interestingly, a significant change in the new drug prescription was observed (p<0.0001): over two-Third of patients (67%) received Marial® as monotherapy, whereas PPI plus add-on were prescribed to almost one-Third of the patients. PPI alone was prescribed in less than 1 %. In conclusion, LPR is a common disorder characterized by typical signs and symptoms; LPR patients may be correctly identified and scored by evidence-based criteria. In addition, the present survey reported that LPR treatment has been considerably changed by the introduction of a new medical device.noneGelardi M.; Silvestri M.; Ciprandi G.; Aielli F.; Alessandrini P.; Allosso G.; Angelillo S.; Anni A.; Antoniacomi G.; Aragona S.E.; Armone Caruso A.; Asprea F.; Azzaro R.; Balata G.; Bellini C.; Benedetto D.; Bernardi R.; Buccolieri M.; Caligo G.; Campobasso G.; Canevari F.R.M.; Cantaffa A.; Capone A.; Carboni S.; Castagna G.; Castellani C.; Clemente I.; Cordier A.; Cossu D.; Costanzo M.; Cugno Garrano A.; Cupido G.; Danteo M.; De Luca C.; Degli Innocenti M.; Dei A.; Denuli G.; Di Bartolo L.; Dolores A.; Falcetti S.; Falciglia R.; Fera G.; Ferraro G.; Fini O.; Giangregorio F.; Grazioli F.; Grillo C.; Guiso M.L.; Ianniel Lo F.; Lerace M.; Lngria F.; La Mantia I.; La Pietra G.; Lambertoni C.; Lauletta R.; Lazzoni D.; Leo S.; Leone M.; Lo Iacono V.; Maio M.; Mangiatordi F.G.; Maniscalco F.; Matricciani A.; Mirra N.; Montanaro S.C.; Montesi P.; Moro D.; Muia F.; Mure C.; Nacci A.; Nipo T.; Pace A.; Panetti G.; Paoletti M.; Pasquarella G.; Pedrotti I.; Pellegrino A.; Petrone D.; Pinto P.; Pizzolante M.C.; Pollastrini L.; Poma S.; Quaranta N.; Reale G.; Rigo S.; Scarpa A.; Scelsi F.; Sellari L.; Serraino E.G.; Spano G.; Stufano V.; Tomacelli G.; Tombolini A.; Zirone A.Gelardi, M.; Silvestri, M.; Ciprandi, G.; Aielli, F.; Alessandrini, P.; Allosso, G.; Angelillo, S.; Anni, A.; Antoniacomi, G.; Aragona, S. E.; Armone Caruso, A.; Asprea, F.; Azzaro, R.; Balata, G.; Bellini, C.; Benedetto, D.; Bernardi, R.; Buccolieri, M.; Caligo, G.; Campobasso, G.; Canevari, F. R. M.; Cantaffa, A.; Capone, A.; Carboni, S.; Castagna, G.; Castellani, C.; Clemente, I.; Cordier, A.; Cossu, D.; Costanzo, M.; Cugno Garrano, A.; Cupido, G.; Danteo, M.; De Luca, C.; Degli Innocenti, M.; Dei, A.; Denuli, G.; Di Bartolo, L.; Dolores, A.; Falcetti, S.; Falciglia, R.; Fera, G.; Ferraro, G.; Fini, O.; Giangregorio, F.; Grazioli, F.; Grillo, C.; Guiso, M. L.; Ianniel Lo, F.; Lerace, M.; Lngria, F.; La Mantia, I.; La Pietra, G.; Lambertoni, C.; Lauletta, R.; Lazzoni, D.; Leo, S.; Leone, M.; Lo Iacono, V.; Maio, M.; Mangiatordi, F. G.; Maniscalco, F.; Matricciani, A.; Mirra, N.; Montanaro, S. C.; Montesi, P.; Moro, D.; Muia, F.; Mure, C.; Nacci, A.; Nipo, T.; Pace, A.; Panetti, G.; Paoletti, M.; Pasquarella, G.; Pedrotti, I.; Pellegrino, A.; Petrone, D.; Pinto, P.; Pizzolante, M. C.; Pollastrini, L.; Poma, S.; Quaranta, N.; Reale, G.; Rigo, S.; Scarpa, A.; Scelsi, F.; Sellari, L.; Serraino, E. G.; Spano, G.; Stufano, V.; Tomacelli, G.; Tombolini, A.; Zirone, A

Probiotics in the add-on treatment of otitis media in clinical practice

Otitis media (OM) affects the middle ear and is typically characterized by earache. OM may be classified as acute (AOM) or chronic (COM), based on symptom duration. OM may be clinically suspected, but the diagnosis is usually confirmed by the otoscopy. Antibiotic therapy is frequently used in clinical practice. However, antibiotics often induce intestinal and respiratory dysbiosis associated with some clinical problems. A one-month course of a probiotic mixture (Abincol® containing Lactobacillus plantarum LP01 (1 billion of living cells), Lactobacillus lactis subspecies cremoris LLC02 (800 million living cells), and Lactobacillus delbrueckii LDD01 (200 million living cells), was prescribed in the Group A, and was compared with no addon treatment, such as the Group B. Patients were evaluated at baseline (T0), at the end of antibiotic treatment (T1), at the end of probiotic course (T2), and at the end of 3-month follow-up (T3)