Invasion trends of aquatic Ludwigia hexapetala and L. peploides subsp. montevidensis (Onagraceae) in Italy based on herbarium records and global datasets

Identifying areas susceptible to invasion by an alien species is a strategy of prevention. We used national herbaria and global databases to assess the invasion trends of the two aquatic invasive species Ludwigia hexapetala and Ludwigia peploides subsp. montevidensis in Italy. We defined the invasion status with invasion curves and predicted potentially suitable areas with Species Distribution Models based on WorldClim variables and the human footprint index. Low seasonal variation in temperature and precipitation, temperature ≥ 20 °C in the driest period of the year and low precipitation in the coldest period are the bioclimatic factors that most account for the potential distribution of the two species. The human footprint has a lower relative importance than bioclimatic variables. All Italian peninsula appears as a suitable bioclimatic environment for the invasion of the two Ludwigia species, with over 90% of areas with high suitability lying below 600 m altitude. Only mountain regions and the islands appear less suitable. The agricultural land at the foothill of the Appennine in the Mediterranean region is the most vulnerable to the invasion. Considering the trend of the invasion curves, which have been sharply rising for the latest decades, there are reasons to expect that the alien Ludwigia species will continue their expansion, if no timely and effective actions are taken. Informative campaigns, accurate monitoring and prompt management are fundamental preventive tools in areas predicted as vulnerable to invasion by this study

Invasion trends of aquatic Ludwigia hexapetala and L. peploides subsp. montevidensis (Onagraceae) in Italy based on herbarium records and global datasets

Identifying areas susceptible to invasion by an alien species is a strategy of prevention. We used national herbaria and global databases to assess the invasion trends of the two aquatic invasive species Ludwigia hexapetala and Ludwigia peploides subsp. montevidensis in Italy. We defined the invasion status with invasion curves and predicted potentially suitable areas with Species Distribution Models based on WorldClim variables and the human footprint index. Low seasonal variation in temperature and precipitation, temperature ≥ 20 °C in the driest period of the year and low precipitation in the coldest period are the bioclimatic factors that most account for the potential distribution of the two species. The human footprint has a lower relative importance than bioclimatic variables. All Italian peninsula appears as a suitable bioclimatic environment for the invasion of the two Ludwigia species, with over 90% of areas with high suitability lying below 600 m altitude. Only mountain regions and the islands appear less suitable. The agricultural land at the foothill of the Appennine in the Mediterranean region is the most vulnerable to the invasion. Considering the trend of the invasion curves, which have been sharply rising for the latest decades, there are reasons to expect that the alien Ludwigia species will continue their expansion, if no timely and effective actions are taken. Informative campaigns, accurate monitoring and prompt management are fundamental preventive tools in areas predicted as vulnerable to invasion by this study

Invasion trends of aquatic Ludwigia hexapetala and L. peploides subsp. montevidensis (Onagraceae) in Italy based on herbarium records and global datasets

Identifying areas susceptible to invasion by an alien species is a strategy of prevention. We used national herbaria and global databases to assess the invasion trends of the two aquatic invasive species Ludwigia hexapetala and Ludwigia peploides subsp. montevidensis in Italy. We defined the invasion status with invasion curves and predicted potentially suitable areas with Species Distribution Models based on WorldClim variables and the human footprint index. Low seasonal variation in temperature and precipitation, temperature ≥ 20 °C in the driest period of the year and low precipitation in the coldest period are the bioclimatic factors that most account for the potential distribution of the two species. The human footprint has a lower relative importance than bioclimatic variables. All Italian peninsula appears as a suitable bioclimatic environment for the invasion of the two Ludwigia species, with over 90% of areas with high suitability lying below 600 m altitude. Only mountain regions and the islands appear less suitable. The agricultural land at the foothill of the Appennine in the Mediterranean region is the most vulnerable to the invasion. Considering the trend of the invasion curves, which have been sharply rising for the latest decades, there are reasons to expect that the alien Ludwigia species will continue their expansion, if no timely and effective actions are taken. Informative campaigns, accurate monitoring and prompt management are fundamental preventive tools in areas predicted as vulnerable to invasion by this study

Role of immune-checkpoint LAG3 as a biomarker finding tool in patient-derived organoid cultures of breast cancer

LAG3 plays a regulatory role in immunity and emerged as an inhibitory immune checkpoint molecule comparable to PD-L1 and CTLA-4 and a potential target for enhancing anti-cancer immune responses. We generated 3D cancer cultures as a model to identify novel molecular biomarkers for the selection of patients suitable for α-LAG3 treatment and simultaneously the possibility to perform an early diagnosis due to its higher presence in breast cancer, also to achieve a theragnostic approach. Our data confirm the extreme dysregulation of LAG3 in breast cancer with significantly higher expression in tumor tissue specimens, compared to non-cancerous tissue controls. LAG3 blockade inhibited proliferation of in vitro and ex vivo 3D human organoids and immune micro-environment through both a decrease of PD-L1, TIM-3 and CTLA4 expression and an increased production of several pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFNγ, IL-12, IL-6, IL-1β, TNFα) and EMT markers. These effects trigger a more permissive anti-tumor immune reaction, recruiting immune cells to the tumor sites, boosting the anti-tumor response. LAG3 acts as an immunosuppressive molecule in breast cancer, inhibiting T CD8 + cell proliferation and cytokine production by T cells. We proposed the modulation of a novel checkpoint molecule, such as LAG3, as potential biomarkers associated to a rapid diagnosis

Relationship between metabolic syndrome and multinodular non-toxic goiter in an inpatient population from a geographic area with moderate iodine deficiency

Background: Obesity and insulin resistance predispose individuals to the development of both metabolic syndrome and non-toxic nodular thyroid diseases. Aim: The aim of this observational, cross-sectional study is to evaluate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and multinodular nontoxic goiter in an inpatient population from a geographic area with moderate iodine deficiency. Subjects and methods: We examined 1422 Caucasian euthyroid inpatients. Thyroid volume was determined by ultrasound of the neck. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed to evaluate single thyroid nodules and dominant nodules ≥15 mm in euthyroid multinodular goiter. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was made according to the criteria of the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Results: Of the sample, 277 patients had clinical evidence of multinodular nontoxic goiter, 461 met the criteria for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, and 132 were found to have both conditions. After adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, nicotinism, parity, alcohol intake, thyroid function, and metabolic syndrome-related pharmacological treatment, metabolic syndrome was found to be an independent risk factor for the occurrence of multinodular non-toxic goiter. The relationship between metabolic syndrome and multi nodular non-toxic goiter was apparent in both men and women. Conclusions: In this study of euthyroid inpatients, we demonstrate that metabolic syndrome is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of multinodular non-toxic goiter in a geographic area with moderate iodine deficiency. We propose that patients meeting the criteria for metabolic syndrome should be screened for the presence of multinodular non-toxic goiter. ©2011, Editrice Kurtis

Comparison of intravenous and intramuscular neridronate regimens for the treatment of Paget disease of bone

Aminobisphosphonates actually represent the most common treatment for Paget disease of bone (PDB). In a previous study we demonstrated that either zoledronic acid (4 mg) or neridronate (200 mg) given as a single intravenous infusion showed a similar short-term efficacy in achieving biochemical remission in up to 90% of patient nonresponders to pamidronate. In this study we compared the long-term (36 months) effects of a same neridronate dose (200 mg) given as an intravenous (100-mg infusion for 2 consecutive days) or intramuscular (25-mg injection weekly for 2 months) regimen in 56 patients with active PDB. All patients were advised to receive calcium plus vitamin D supplementation throughout the study period. At 6 months, 92.6% and 96.5% of patients receiving intravenous and intramuscular neridronate, respectively, achieved a therapeutic response [defined as normalization of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels or a reduction of at least 75% in total ALP excess]. The response to treatment was significantly correlated with baseline ALP and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels at 6 months. The decrease in ALP levels was highest in patients with higher baseline total or bone-specific ALP levels and with higher 25(OH)D levels at 6 months. Response rates were maintained at 12 months but decreased progressively at 24 and 36 months without significant differences between the two neridronate regimens. Both regimens were well tolerated. The only relevant side effect was an acute-phase response occurring in 14% of the patients. In conclusion, these results indicate that a 200-mg intramuscular neridronate course has a similar efficacy as an intravenous infusion of the same dose for the treatment of PDB and might be of particular value for patients intolerant to oral bisphosphonates and unwilling or unable to undergo intravenous infusions