Identification of contracaecum rudolphii (Nematoda: Anisakidae) in great cormorants phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (Blumenbach, 1978) from Southern Italy

Simple Summary: Four dead Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis specimens from Southern Italy coasts were examined for Contracaecum sp. detection. 181 Contracaecum sp. larvae and adults were found in the viscera of all the P. carbo sinensis examined. The PCR-RFLP analysis showed the presence of Contracaecum rudolphii A and B. A co-infestation of C. rudolphii A and B was found in P. carbo sinensis from Leporano Bay. This study provides a first report of the presence of Contracaecum sp. in P. carbo sinensis from Southern Italy. Abstract: In this study, four dead great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (Blumenbach, 1978) specimens, collected from the coasts and lakes of Southern Italy, were examined by necropsy for the detection of Contraceacum sp. The adults and larvae found were subjected to morphological analysis and molecular identification by PCR-RFLP. A total of 181 Contracaecum specimens were detected in all of the four great cormorants examined (prevalence = 100%), showing an intensity of infestation between nine and ninety-two. A co-infestation by adult and larval forms of Contracaecum rudolphii was found only in one of the great cormorants examined. Following molecular investigations, 48 specimens of C. rudolphii A and 38 specimens of C. rudolphii B were detected, revealing co-infestation solely for the great cormorant from Leporano Bay (Southern Italy). Our results showed an opposite ratio between C. rudolphii A and C. rudolphii B in Pantelleria and in Salso Lake (Southern Italy) compared to what was reported in the literature, probably due to migratory stopovers and the ecology of the infested fish species, confirming the role of Contracaecum nematodes as ecological tags of their hosts

Fatty Acids Composition of Stomach Oil of Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) from Linosa’s Colony

Calonectris diomedea is a Procellariforms seabird having a very representative colony in Linosa Island (Southern Italy). The adult forms of C. diomedea produce a pasty oil from their proven- triculus to feed their chicks during the rearing period. In this work, we examined the fatty acids composition of the stomach oil of C. diomedea from Linosa Island by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The samples were collected at 20 and 70 days after hatching. Twenty different fatty acids (FAs) were identified. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) were the most abundant in percentage (41.6%) at day 20 followed by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, 38.7%) and monounsat- urated fatty acids (MUFA, 19.7%). MUFAs were the most abundant in samples collected at day 70 (53.8%), followed by SFAs (36.6%) and PUFAs (9.8%). Oleic acid (C18:1ω9) in the samples on day 70 was 4 times higher than that in the samples on day 20. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) verified a clear separation of the stomach oil samples in two groups, according to the day of sampling. The results obtained confirm the role of FAs analysis of stomach oil to understand the ecology and breeding behaviour of C. diomedea, highlighting a resemblance with signatures recorded in marine organisms of Linosa Island

Impiego della maschera laringea per la gestione delle vie aeree nel gatto

Obiettivo: valutare l’efficacia del posizionamento alla cieca di una maschera laringea ad uso umano in gatti sottoposti ad anestesia generale. Materiali e metodi: lo studio è stato effettuato su 10 gatti di varie razze ed età. Tutti i soggetti sono stati sottoposti ad anestesia generale, mediante diversi protocolli decisi in base alla procedura medica da effettuare. Dopo l’induzione i pazienti sono stati posizionati in decubito sternale, l’operatore ha erogato 1 mg/kg di lidocaina al 2%, nebulizzandola sulla laringe per inibirne il riflesso. Prima dell’utilizzo il presidio sovragglottideo scelto, è stato cuffiato per valutare la presenza di eventuali perdite nella cuffia, scuffiato e lubrificato tramite gel. L’operatore ha poi posizionato alla cieca la maschera e successivamente cuffiato per bloccarla, evitare dislocazioni e perdite di gas. Successivamente la maschera è stata collegata al sensore della capnografia per valutare la presenza di espirato. Per verificare l’esatto posizionamento della maschera, è anche stato utilizzato un video endoscopio, inserito all’interno della maschera al fine di visualizzare la laringe e le corde vocali. Durante queste manovre sono stati monitorati i valori di frequenza cardiaca (FC) e frequenza respiratoria (FR) dei pazienti. Risultati: in tutti i soggetti è stato possibile ottenere un posizionamento della maschera laringea senza sforzo da parte dell’operatore e senza l’insorgenza di sintomi quali vomito o laringospasmo. Il valore medio di capnografia è risultato essere 33 ± 7 mmHg e i tracciati capnografici nel 70% dei casi normali. I valori medi di FC ed FR sono risultati di 137 ± 33 bpm e 34 ±7 apm, rispettivamente. La verifica con video-endoscopio ha permesso di identificare che nel 70% dei casi la maschera è stata posizionata correttamente (visibile laringe nella sua totalità) , nel 20% dei casi era leggermente spostata (laringe visibile parzialmente) e nel 10% dei casi era posizionata troppo caudalmente (laringe non visibile). Conclusioni: questo studio ha dimostrato che la capnografia potrebbe non essere sufficientemente sensibile nell’identificare un corretto posizionamento. Nei soggetti in cui il posizionamento della maschera non era considerato adeguato il tracciato capnografico presentava come alterazione, una linea di base non a zero che indica rirespirazione. Quindi per poter valutare l’avvenuto posizionamento della maschera in laringe, potrebbe essere necessario l’uso del video-endoscopio. Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of blind positioning of a laryngeal mask for human use in cats under general anaesthesia. Materials and methods: The study was carried out on 10 cats of various breeds and ages. All subjects underwent general anaesthesia, using different protocols decided according to the medical procedure to be carried out. After induction the patients were placed in sternal decubitus, the operator dispensed 1 mg/kg of lidocaine at 2%, nebulizing it on the larynx to inhibit the reflex. Before the use the supraglottic device was cuffed to assess the absence of any leaks in the cuff, then was deflated and lubricated by gel. The operator then blindly positioned the mask and then cupped it to block it, avoiding dislocations and gas leaks. The mask was then connected to the capnography sensor to evaluate the presence of exhalation. To verify the exact positioning of the mask, a video endoscope was also used, inserted inside the mask to visualize the larynx and vocal cords. During these maneuvers, the heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) of the patients were monitored. Results: in all subjects it was possible to obtain a positioning of the laryngeal mask without effort on the part of the operator and without the onset of symptoms such as vomiting or laryngospasm. The mean value of capnography was 33 ± 7 mmHg. The mean values for HR and RR were 137 ± 33 bpm and 34 ± 7 bpm, respectively. The video-endoscope examination allowed to identify that in 70% of the cases the mask was correctly positioned (total larynx visible), in 20% of the cases it was slightly displaced (larynx partially visible) and in 10% of the cases it was positioned too caudally (larynx not visible). Conclusions: this study has shown that capnography may not be sensitive enough to identify correct positioning. In subjects in which the mask positioning failed, the capnogram showed a non-zero baseline indicating re-breathing as an alteration. Therefore, the use of the video-endoscope could be necessary to evaluate the successful positioning of the mask in the larynx

Intersectionality in European Union policymaking: the case of gender-based violence

Inclusiveness of different social groups and responsiveness to the needs of increasingly diverse societies are key criteria for policy analysts to assess the quality of public policies. We argue that an intersectional approach attentive to the interaction of gender with other inequalities is particularly apt to deal with equality and diversity in policymaking. By analysing a selection of European Union policy documents on gender-based violence in the period 2000–2014, we attend to the question of what intersectionality can bring to policymaking in terms of strengthening inclusiveness and address the methodological question of applying an intersectional approach to policy analysis

Impact of coronary bypass or stenting on mortality and myocardial infarction in stable coronary artery disease

Background: To assess whether coronary bypass (CABG) or stenting reduce the risk of mortality and myocardial infarction (MI) compared with optimal medical therapy (OMT) in stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: We performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis of contemporary randomized controlled trials comparing OMT, CABG and different stent types in stable CAD. All-comer trials were included if the rate of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was≤20%. Endpoints were all-cause mortality and MI. Results: Ninety-seven trials including 75,754 patients were analyzed at a weighted mean follow up of 42.5 months. Compared to OMT, CABG was associated with a lower risk of death (OR = 0.84; 95%CI:0.71-0.97). After exclusion of trials in left main and/or multivessel disease(LM/MVD) this benefit was not statistically significant (OR = 0.89; 95%CI:0.74-1.06). CABG was associated with a lower risk of MI (OR = 0.67;95%CI: 0.49-0.91) showing, however, a certain degree of inconsistency (p=0.10). None of the stent types included was associated with a lower risk of death. However, durable-polymer-CoCr-everolimus-eluting stent, by mixed evidence, after exclusion of either LM/MVD (OR = 0.73;95%CI: 0.54-0.98) or all-comer/post-MI trials (OR = 0.62;95%CI:0.39-0.98) was associated with a lower risk of MI than OMT. Similar findings, by indirect evidence, were confirmed for bio-absorbable-polymer-CoCr-sirolimus eluting stent (LMV/MVD trials excluded OR = 0.46; 95%CI = 0.29-0.74, all-comer/post-MI trials excluded: OR = 0.41;95%CI:0.22-0.79). Conclusions: In stable CAD, CABG reduces the risk of mortality and MI compared to OMT, especially in patients with higher extent of CAD. Our study suggests that some of second and latest-generation drug-eluting stents may reduce the risk of MI. Future research should confirm these latter findings

First Report on the Presence of Toxic Metals and Metalloids in East Asian Bullfrog (<i>Hoplobatrachus rugulosus</i>) Legs

We examined the presence of As, Cr, Cd, and Pb in 42 samples of farmed East Asian bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus rugulosus) from Vietnam and Thailand by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). An estimation of the dietary intake and exposure to the toxic elements analysed was also carried out. The results showed very high As levels, with mean values of 0.094 ± 0.085 mg/Kg w.w. and a maximum of 0.22 mg/Kg. No significant differences were found for As contents between areas of production (p > 0.05). No detectable Cd contents were found in all the samples examined. The Pb concentrations of the East Asian bullfrog legs samples were below the European Commission’s permitted levels. The Cr and Pb contents of the East Asian bullfrog produced in Vietnam were significantly higher than that produced in Thailand (p < 0.05). The target hazard quotient (THQ) ratio for Cr was not exceeded for all the samples analysed. In contrast, the benchmark dose lower confidence limit (BMDL) and THQ ratios for As were exceeded, indicating carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks for those who consume this type of food. The results of this work confirm the role of As-contaminated water absorption as an important source of arsenic for these adult organisms