Feeding habits of Aspitrigla cuculus (L., 1758) (red gurnard), Lepidotrigla cavillone (Lac., 1802) (large scale gurnard) and Trigloporus lastoviza (Brunn., 1768) (rock gurnard) around Cyclades and Dodecanese Islands (E. Mediterranean)

The feeding habits of the three most abundant gurnard species, red gurnard (Aspitrigla cuculus), large scale gurnard (Lepidotrigla cavillone) and rock gurnard (Trigloporus lastoviza) in the eastern Mediterranean (Dodecanese and Cyclades, Greece) are examined. The stomach contents of the gurnard specimens collected in April and September 1996 by bottom trawling were analyzed. The % frequency of occurrence, % number and % weight of prey types in the stomach contents were evaluated. By weight, Mysidacea and Decapoda dominated in the diet of the three species in both seasons, however the Index of Relative Importance, as well as the percentage frequency of occurrence varied. Rock gurnard presented the most diverse diet whereas the diet of large scale and red gurnard were more specialized. High overlap in terms of number was found between rock and large scale gurnard in May. Rock gurnard had the most divers diet in both seasons

First Occurrence Of The Tilapia Oreochromis Niloticus Niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) In Lesina Lagoon (Eastern Italian Coast)

Individuals of the tilapia species Oreochromis niloticus niloticus(Linnaeus, 1758) were caught in Lesina Lagoon during experimental sampling for the shrimp Penaeus kerathurus using fyke net traps from December 1999 to September 2000. The species O. niloticusis not native in Italian coastal waters, although attempts of tilapia culture in land-based aquaculture farms were occasionally carried out in the past. The number of individuals captured in the samples suggests a colonization of the area of Lesina lagoon. The highest catches were observed during July. In July, the individuals caught represented the 22.3±4.1 % of the total catch weight. Such colonization of a marine environment byO. niloticusniloticus is the first case reported for Italy. The occurrence of the species in Lesina lagoon is attributed to fish which escaped from fish farms in the area and entered the lagoon through the numerous streams and irrigation-drainage channels that outflow along the south coastline

THE BASIS OF COASTAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT FOR SMALL FISHING COMMUNITIES: THE CASE OF THE SHRIMP (PENAEUS KERA THURUS) FISHERY IN WESTERN GREECE

The fishery for Penaeus kerthurus in western Greece illustrates key features of the balance that must be struck to manage marine resources in small coastal communities, whether in Greece or in Croatia

Tumor necrosis factor-α and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 control reactive oxygen species release, mitochondrial autophagy and c-Jun N-terminal kinase/p38 phosphorylation during necrotizing enterocolitis

Background: Oxidative stress and inflammation may contribute to the disruption of the protective gut barrier through various mechanisms; mitochondrial dysfunction resulting from inflammatory and oxidative injury may potentially be a significant source of apoptosis during necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α is thought to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activate the apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1)-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/p38 pathway. Hence, the focus of our study was to examine the effects of TNFα/ROs on mitochondrial function, ASK1-JNK/p38 cascade activation in intestinal epithelial cells during NEC

Annotated records of scombroid eggs and larvae distribution in northeastern Mediterranean waters

The distribution of eggs and larvae of scombroid fish in northeastern Greek waters were studied during the summer of three consecutive years(1992-1994) to determine spawning, time of spawning peaks, and the possible preferred spawning grounds. Among eggs only those of Xiphias gladius were successfully identified. Larvae of Thunnus alalunga, Euthynnus alleteratus, X. gladius and Auxis rochei were recorded, the latter species being encountered more frequently than the rest. Most scombroid larvae were collected in the Sporades Islands’ basin and their abundance, particularly that of A. rochei, was relatively increased at the end of the summer, possibly suggesting increased spawning activities during that period

Ishemia-Reperfusion enhances GAPDH nitration in aging skeletal muscle

Aging and skeletal muscle ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury leads to decreased contractile force generation that increases severely with age. Our studies show that glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) protein expression is significantly decreased at 3 and 5 days reperfusion in the young mouse muscle and at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days in the aged muscle. Using PCR, we have shown that GAPDH mRNA levels in young and old muscle increase at 5 days reperfusion compared to control, suggesting that the protein deficit is not transcriptional. Furthermore, while total tyrosine nitration did not increase in the young muscle, GAPDH nitration increased significantly at 1 and 3 days reperfusion. In contrast, total tyrosine nitration in aged muscle increased significantly at 1, 3, and 5 days of reperfusion, with increases in GAPDH nitration at the same time points. We conclude that GAPDH protein levels decrease following I/R, that this is not transcriptionally mediated, that the aged muscle experiences greater oxidative stress, protein modification and GAPDH degradation, possibly contributing to decreased muscle function. We propose that tyrosine nitration enhances GAPDH degradation following I/R and that the persistent decrease of GAPDH in aged muscle is due to the prolonged increase in oxidative modification in this age group

Inflammatory pseudotumor associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

SummaryBackgroundInflammatory pseudotumor is a relatively rare entity; originally identified in the lung, it has been described in multiple extrapulmonary anatomic locations.Case reportWe report on the unusual case of an inflammatory pseudotumor associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, which was initially mistaken for a renal malignancy both in clinical and radiological settings. We additionally present three brief reviews concerning: (1) infectious agents postulated to induce morphological changes of an inflammatory pseudotumor; (2) mycobacterial pseudotumors; and (3) distinction from inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors of the renal pelvis.ConclusionsThe present case highlights the diagnostic importance of PCR-based detection of mycobacterial DNA in granulomatous tissue responses. It is of crucial importance that clinicians are aware of this unusual manifestation of mycobacterial infection to ensure that pertinent laboratory evaluation is employed and appropriate treatment is administered in order to avoid potential clinical implications

Impact of a novel surgical wound protection device on observed versus expected surgical site infection rates after colectomy using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Risk Calculator

Surgical site infection (SSI) remains a persistent and morbid problem in colorectal surgery. A novel surgical device that combines barrier surgical wound protection and continuous surgical wound irrigation was evaluated in a cohort of elective colorectal surgery patients. A retrospective analysis was performed comparing rates of SSI observed in a prospective cohort study with the predicted rate of SSI using the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Risk Calculator.A prospective multi-center study of colectomy patients was conducted using a study device for surgical site retraction and protection, as well as irrigation of the incision. Patients were followed for 30 days after the surgical procedure to assess for SSI. After completion of the study, patients' characteristics were inserted into the ACS-NSQIP Risk Calculator to determine the predicted rate of SSI for the given patient population and compared with the observed rate in the study.A total of 108 subjects were enrolled in the study. The observed rate of SSI in the prospective study using the novel device was 3.7% (4/108). The predicted rate of SSI in the same patient population utilizing the ACS-NSQIP Risk Calculator was estimated to be 9.5%. This demonstrated a 61% difference (3.7% vs. 9.5%, p = 0.04) in SSI from the NSQIP predicted rate with the use of the irrigating surgical wound protection and retraction device.These data suggest the use of a novel surgical wound protection device seems to reduce the rate of SSIs in colorectal surgery