Macro- and Microplastics in the Antarctic Environment: Ongoing Assessment and Perspectives

The number of scientists and tourists visiting Antarctica is on the rise and, despite the management framework for environmental protection, some coastal areas, particularly in the Antarctic Peninsula region, are affected by plastic contamination. The few data available on the occurrence of microplastics (<5 mm) are difficult to compare, due to the different methodologies used in monitoring studies. However, indications are emerging to guide future research and to implement environmental protocols. In the surface and subsurface waters of the Southern Ocean, plastic debris >300 p.m appears to be scarce and far less abundant than paint chips released from research vessels. Yet, near some coastal scientific stations, the fragmentation and degradation of larger plastic items, as well as microbeads and microfibers released into wastewater from personal care products and laundry, could potentially affect marine organisms. Some studies indicate that, through long-range atmospheric transport, plastic fibers produced on other continents can be deposited in Antarctica. Drifting plastic debris can also cross the Polar Front, with the potential to carry alien fouling organisms into the Southern Ocean. Sea ice dynamics appear to favor the uptake of microplastics by ice algae and Antarctic krill, the key species in the Antarctic marine food web. Euphausia superba apparently has the ability to fragment and expel ingested plastic particles at the nanoscale. However, most Antarctic organisms are endemic species, with unique ecophysiological adaptations to extreme environmental conditions and are likely highly sensitive to cumulative stresses caused by climate change, microplastics and other anthropogenic disturbances. Although there is limited evidence to date that micro- and nanoplastics have direct biological effects, our review aims at raising awareness of the problem and, in order to assess the real potential impact of microplastics in Antarctica, underlines the urgency to fill the methodological gaps for their detection in all environmental matrices, and to equip scientific stations and ships with adequate wastewater treatment plants to reduce the release of microfibers

Competence in transbronchial cryobiopsy

Over the last decade transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) has proven to be an “innovative application” of an “old procedure” for the histologic diagnosis of diffuse interstitial lung diseases (DI LDs). Thus, the technique of TBL cryobiopsy is now adopted for diagnostic purposes, transbronchially in peripheral airways to sample lung parenchyma, whereas this same technique was traditionally employed in the past for therapeutic purposes, essentially for the management of malignant obstruction of central airways. When patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) need histopathological data in their diagnostic pathway, this bioptic approach could be a valid alternative to surgical lung biopsy, that is still the gold standard at the moment. TBL cryobiopsy has a good safety profile, its sensitivity and specificity appear good overall in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In the last ten years, many papers have been published about this procedure defining modalities by which cryobiopsy should be performed. These studies have shown that TBL cryobiopsy is feasible, it allows to obtain larger lung parenchymal specimens (3 times larger than “classic” transbronchial biopsies), characterized by unaltered and artefact-free morphology, and it represents a safe and poorly invasive diagnostic tool for the histologic diagnosis of ILDs. The technical aspects are really important, and they still need a complete standardization. TBL cryobiopsy should be part of an equipment of the modern interventional pulmonologist, who should know indications and contraindications of this methodic and the technical aspects of the procedure. This is a complex procedure requiring to be performed by endoscopists working in specialized centers with specific knowledge of DILDs, and a multidisciplinary approach, which represent pre-requisites for admission to training in this procedure

Macrophage-Derived Biomarkers of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe, rapidly progressive diffuse lung disease. Several pathogenetic mechanisms have been hypothesized on the basis of the fibrotic lung damage occurring in this disease, and a potential profibrotic role of activated alveolar macrophages and their mediators in the pathogenesis of IPF was recently documented. This paper focuses on recent literature on potential biomarkers of IPF derived from activated alveolar macrophages. Biomarker discovery and clinical application are a recent topic of interest in the field of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). Cytokines, CC-chemokines, and other macrophage-produced mediators are the most promising prognostic biomarkers. Many molecules have been proposed in the literature as potential biomarker of IPF; however, a rigorous validation is needed to confirm their clinical utility

Extracellular Vesicles in Pulmonary Fibrosis Models and Biological Fluids of Interstitial Lung Disease Patients : A Scoping Review

Introduction: Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are a heterogeneous group of diffuse parenchymal lung disorders characterized by the pathogenetic involvement of interstitium. Therefore, an elucidation of the etiology and pathogenesis as well as the identification of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of such diseases is more compelling than ever. It is of note that there is increasing evidence of the involvement of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the pathogenesis of lung diseases including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary fibrosis. It has been speculated that EVs play a pivotal role as mediators of intercellular communication, as well as the highlighting of the role of EVs as co-operators in the development of lung diseases such as IPF. Methods: The present study aimed to carry out a systematic exploratory search of the literature (through the scoping review approach) to identify and systematize the main results of the pathogenetic role of EVs in pulmonary fibrosis models and biological fluids from ILD patients, including plasma, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and sputum. Conclusion: Fibroblast-to-mesenchymal differentiation, collagen and extracellular matrix deposition are key mechanisms in the development and progression of IPF. EV-coupled miRNA are important modulators of biological processes in terms of intercellular communication as shown in pulmonary fibrosis models as well as biofluids. The helpfulness of EVs as diagnostic and theranostic markers is worth further investigation. The evolving potential of EVs to translate effective EV-based therapies into clinical practice is of growing interest, due to the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies for IPF patients

Gate Leakage Reduction by Clocked Power Supply of Adiabatic Logic Circuits

Losses due to gate-leakage-currents become more dominant in new technologies as gate leakage currents increase exponentially with decreasing gate oxide thickness. The most promising Adiabatic Logic (AL) families use a clocked power supply with four states. Hence, the full <i>V</i>_<i>DD</i> voltage drops over an AL gate only for a quarter of the clock cycle, causing a full gate leakage only for a quarter of the clock period. The rising and falling ramps of the clocked power supply lead to an additional energy consumption by gate leakage. This energy is smaller than the fraction caused by the constant <i>V</i>_<i>DD</i> drop, because the gate leakage exponentially depends on the voltage across the oxide. To obtain smaller energy consumption, Improved Adiabatic Logic (IAL) has been introduced. IAL swaps all n- and p-channel transistors. The logic blocks are built of p-channel devices which show gate tunneling currents significantly smaller than in n-channel devices. Using IAL instead of conventional AL allows an additional reduction of the energy consumption caused by gate leakage. Simulations based on a 90nm CMOS process show a lowering in gate leakage energy consumption for AL by a factor of 1.5 compared to static CMOS. For IAL the factor is up to 4. The achievable reduction varies depending on the considered AL family and the complexity of the gate

Omalizumab treatment in Samter's triad: case series and review of the literature

OBJECTIVE: Samter’s triad is the combination of asthma, aspirin sensitization, and nasal polyposis. Few data are available on the use of omalizumab in this disease. The study aimed to describe the impact of omalizumab on clinical and functional parameters and the quality of life of a series of patients with Samter’s triad. Moreover, we aimed to provide a review of the literature on this topic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively described four patients with Samter’s triad undergoing omalizumab therapy. Clinical, functional, and immunological data of these patients were collected at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: Reduction of asthma exacerbations and salbutamol rescue therapy were observed in all patients after anti-IgE treatment together with an improvement in the quality of life. A significant improvement in FEV1, FVC, and FEF25-75 was observed. No major side-effects were observed. A total of 14 studies regarding omalizumab in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory diseases were included in the review, comprising 78 patients. All studies reported a good efficacy in improving asthma control; restoration of aspirin tolerance was repeatedly reported. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our case series and review of the literature suggest that omalizumab effectively improves asthma control, lung function tests, and quality of life in patients with Samter’s triad

Increased Risk of Atherosclerosis in Patients with Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Recent studies demonstrated that its pathogenesis is related with enhanced oxidative stress (protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation) and alterations in the circulating lipid profile. Alterations of lipid metabolism (including the reduction in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and apolipoprotein A1 concentrations) induce plasma membrane, bronchial and lung capillary endothelial cell damage in sarcoidosis patients. Dyslipidemia is associated with increased oxidative stress, diminished overall antioxidative protection and increased risk for atherosclerosis. Very recently increased cardiovascular biomarkers (in particular alterations of lipoprotein A and d-dimer concentrations) were observed in sarcoidosis patients, mainly in those with a high risk of atherosclerosis. Chitotriosidase, a biomarker of sarcoidosis activity and macrophage activation, is increased in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with sarcoidosis as well as in patients with atherosclerosis. Lipidomics and other recent methodologies allowed the discovery of proteins involved in lipid metabolism and sarcoidosis pathogenesis, such as serum amyloid A, a biomarker of sarcoidosis activity, involved in innate immune response, inflammation and apolipoprotein metabolism. In this review lipid metabolism alteration and atherosclerosis risk in sarcoidosis patients were discussed in order to contribute to this novel and interesting research topic

REE, Uranium (U) and Thorium (Th) contents in Betula pendula leaf growing around Komsomolsk gold concentration plant tailing (Kemerovo region, Western Siberia, Russia)

The article deals with the research findings of peculiarities of REE, Uranium and Thorium distribution in the territory surrounding the tailing of former Komsomolsk gold concentration plant according to the data from Betula pendula leaf testing. In the leaf element composition the slight deficiency of MREE and substantial excess of HREE are presented. In the nearest impacted area around the tailing, La, Yb, U and Th content, and Th/U ratio are lower than in the distant buffer area. It is shown, that value of Th/U ratio and REE can be an indicator for geochemical transformations of technogenic landscapes in mining districts. The results of the research can be used for biomonitoring of the territory around the tailing

Over 1200 drugs-related deaths and 190,000 opiate-user-years of follow-up : relative risks by sex and age-group

Heroin users/injectors' risk of drugs-related death by sex and current age is weakly estimated both in individual cohorts of under 1000 clients, 5000 person-years or 50 drugs-related deaths and when using cross-sectional data. A workshop in Cambridge analysed six cohorts who were recruited according to a common European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) protocol from drug treatment agencies in Barcelona, Denmark, Dublin, Lisbon, Rome and Vienna in the 1990s; and, as external reference, opiate-user arrestees in France and hepatitis C diagnosed ever-injectors in Scotland in 1993-2001, both followed by database linkage to December 2001. EMCDDA cohorts recorded approximately equal numbers of drugs-related deaths (864) and deaths from other non-HIV causes (865) during 106,152 person-years of follow-up. External cohorts contributed 376 drugs-related deaths (Scotland 195, France 181) and 418 deaths from non-HIV causes (Scotland 221, France 197) during 86,417 person-years of follow-up (Scotland 22,670, France 63,747). EMCDDA cohorts reported 707 drugs-related deaths in 81,367 man-years {8.7 per 1000 person-years, 95% CI: 8.1 to 9.4} but only 157 in 24,785 person-years for females {6.3 per 1000 person-years, 95% CI: 5.4 to 7.4}. Except in external cohorts, relative risks by current age-group were not particularly strong, and more modest in Poisson regression than in cross-sectional analyses: relative risk was 1.2 (95% CI: 1.0-1.4) for 35-44 year olds compared to 15-24 year 3 olds, but 1.4 for males (95%CI: 1.2-1.6), and dramatically lower at 0.44 after the first year of follow-up (95% CI: 0.37-0.52)