Survey of selected beetle families in a floodplain remnant in northern Italy

Abstract The highly fragmented floodplain forest remnants of the river Po (Italy) are protected at the European level, but surprisingly little is known about their ecology and in particular their invertebrate fauna. The present work investigates 11 selected beetle families sampled in the reserve of Isola Boscone (Lombardy Region, Mantua Province), which is situated inside the embankments of the Po. Twelve window traps were attached to dead trees, either in open and sun-exposed situations (n = 6) or in the understorey of small forest patches (n = 6), and were active from 16 June to 3 November 2009. The following 11 beetle families were studied: Histeridae, Lucanidae, Scarabaeidae, Lissomidae, Elateridae, Buprestidae, Cleridae, Aderidae, Tenebrionidae, Cerambycidae, Anthribidae. A total of 495 individuals belonging to 53 species were collected, including five species of particular faunistic interest. The species Aegosoma scabricorne (Scopoli) and Dissoleucas niveirostris (F.) were associated with the forest habitat, while Chlorophorus varius (Muller), Dorcus parallelipipedus (L.) and Nalassus dryadophilus (Mulsant) were associated with the open habitat. Analyses of the abundance data revealed that the traps from the two habitat types differed in their community composition and that more species were caught in the open habitat. However, individual-based rarefaction curves showed that species richness did not differ when the number of species was plotted in relation to the number of individuals caught. This finding shows that richness estimates need to be interpreted with caution. The study also highlights that monitoring of beetles in floodplain forest remnants is complicated by recurrent floods

Follow-up of multicentric HCC according to the mRECIST criteria: Role of 320-row CT with semi-automatic 3D analysis software for evaluating the response to systemic therapy

Aim. To evaluate the role of 320-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) with 3D analysis software in follow up of patients affected by multicentric hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with systemic therapy by using modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST). Patients and methods. 38 patients affected by multicentric HCC underwent MDCT. All exams were performed before and after iodinate contrast material intravenous injection by using a 320-detection row CT device. CT images were analyzed by two radiologists using multi-planar reconstructions (MPR) in order to assess the response to systemic therapy according to mRECIST criteria: complete response (CR), partial response (PR), progressive disease (PD), stable disease (SD). 30 days later, the same two radiologists evaluated target lesion response to systemic therapy according to mRECIST criteria by using 3D analysis software. The difference between the two systems in assessing HCC response to therapy was assessed by the analysis of the variance (Anova Test). Interobserver agreement between the two radiologists by using MPR images and 3D analysis software was calculated by using Cohen’s Kappa test. Results. PR occurred in 10/38 cases (26%), PD in 6/38 (16%), SD in 22/38 (58%). Anova Test showed no statistically significant difference between the two systems for assessing target lesion response to therapy (p >0.05). Inter-observer agreement (k) was respectively of 0.62 for MPR images measurements and 0.86 for 3D analysis ones. Conclusions. 3D Analysis software provides a semiautomatic system for assessing target lesion response to therapy according to mRECIST criteria in patient affected by multifocal HCC treated with systemic therapy. The reliability of 3D analysis software makes it useful in the clinical practice

Dynamics of GH secretion during incremental exercise in obesity, before and after a short period of training at different work-loads

International audience<b>Background</b>. Growth hormone (GH) is normally sensitive to physical exercise. Intensity and duration of exercise, fitness as well as age, all can influence GH response to exercise. In obesity, GH secretion is decreased both in basal conditions and in response to exercise. <b>Objective</b>. To analyse the dynamics of GH response to a progressive cycloergometric test conducted up to exhaustion in adult normal subjects and obese patients, after a reconditioning program at different workloads. <b>Design and methods</b>. We studied 8 lean subjects (4 males, mean age 34.3 yrs, range 26-47 yrs, mean BMI 22.1 kg/m²). GH was sampled at baseline and during the last 30 s of each power output increase. Anaerobic threshold (AT) was detected by the V-slope method. The same test was carried out in 16 obese subjects (7 males, mean age 39.1 yrs, range 20-59 yrs, mean BMI 35.8 kg/m²) and repeated after a 4-week reconditioning program consisting of aerobic workout (Group A, 8 subjects, 3 males, mean age 40.5 yrs, range 22-59 yrs, mean BMI 33.6 kg/m²), and aerobic plus anaerobic work (group B, 8 subjects, 4 males, mean age 37.6 yrs, range 20-56 yrs, mean BMI 38.0 kg/m²) for 6 days/wk, with no dietary restrictions. <b>Results</b>. Mean exercise peak occurred at higher intensity in controls (140 vs. 110 W, p<0.05) and AT exceeded at higher work outputs than in obese subjects (102 vs. 74 W, p<0.05). In controls, GH response to exercise was prompt and further sustained after AT; in obese subjects, GH increased slowly and unsignificantly before AT, thereafter it increased to lower levels than in controls (p<0.001). Following the reconditioning period, both Group A and Group B of obese subjects failed to improve exercise performance as well as GH response to exercise before AT; beyond AT, a greater GH response to exercise occurred in Group B than Group A (7.59 ± 0.32 μg/l at peak of exercise) with significantly different Delta AUCs following AT: 30.5 ± 12 μg-min/l in the Group A vs 124.2 ± 38 μg-min/l in the Group B, p < 0.05. <b>Conclusions</b>. Our results confirm the blunted GH response to exercise in obese adults when compared to lean counterparts. With obesity, aerobic training poorly increases the GH response beyond AT while supplemental anaerobic workload appears to increase GH response beyond AT. These observations may have implications for prescription of physical exercise, which is one of the recommendations in the management of obesity

Breast US as primary imaging modality for diagnosing gynecomastia

Aim. To assess the role of breast US in diagnosing and classifying gynecomastia as the primary imaging modality and to compare US findings and classification system with the mammographic ones. Patients and methods. 48 patients suspected of having gynecomastia underwent mammography and US. Two radiologists in consensus retrospectively evaluated mammograms and sonograms. Both US and mammographic images were evaluated categorizing gynecomastia into non-mass, nodular and flame shaped patterns. The two category assignations were compared in order to find any difference. The reference standard for both the classification systems was represented by the cytological examination in 18 out of 44 cases (41%) and the six-month US follow-up in the remaining cases. Results. The US examination revealed pseudo-gynecomastia in 4/48 (8%) and true gynecomastia in the remaining 44 (92%). Gynecomastia was bilateral in 25/44 cases (57%) and unilateral in the remaining 19 (43%). The cases of true gynecomastia included non mass shape in 26/44 cases (59%), nodular shape in 12 (27%) and flame shape in 6 (14%). The mammographic examination revealed the same results as compared with US findings. 18/44 (41%) patients affected by nodular or dendritic gynecomastia underwent cytological examination confirming the presence of glandular tissue and the benign nature of the clinical condition. Conclusions. US could be proposed as the primary imaging tool for diagnosing and classifying gynecomastia, avoiding unnecessary Xray examinations or invasive procedures in case of diffuse gynecomastia. In case of nodular or dendritic patterns, biopsy remains mandatory for a definitive diagnosis

Functionalized Polymeric Materials with Bio-Derived Antimicrobial Peptides for "Active" Packaging

Food packaging is not only a simple protective barrier, but a real &#8220;active&#8222; component, which is expected to preserve food quality, safety and shelf-life. Therefore, the materials used for packaging production should show peculiar features and properties. Specifically, antimicrobial packaging has recently gained great attention with respect to both social and economic impacts. In this paper, the results obtained by using a polymer material functionalized by a small synthetic peptide as &#8220;active&#8222; packaging are reported. The surface of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), one of the most commonly used plastic materials in food packaging, was plasma-activated and covalently bio-conjugated to a bactenecin-derivative peptide named 1018K6, previously characterized in terms of antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities. The immobilization of the peptide occurred at a high yield and no release was observed under different environmental conditions. Moreover, preliminary data clearly demonstrated that the &#8220;active&#8222; packaging was able to significantly reduce the total bacterial count together with yeast and mold spoilage in food-dairy products. Finally, the functionalized-PET polymer showed stronger efficiency in inhibiting biofilm growth, using a Listeria monocytogenes strain isolated from food products. The use of these &#8220;active&#8222; materials would greatly decrease the risk of pathogen development and increase the shelf-life in the food industry, showing a real potential against a panel of microorganisms upon exposure to fresh and stored products, high chemical stability and re-use possibility

GPR and ERT Investigations in Urban Areas: the Case-Study of Matera (Southern Italy)

This paper deals with a geophysical survey carried out in some critical urban areas of the historical city of Matera (Southern Italy). Matera has a very complex shallower stratigraphy characterized by both anthropic and natural &ldquo;targets&rdquo; and is affected by geological instability. Therefore, Matera represents an ideal and very challenging outdoor laboratory for testing novel approaches for near-surface explorations in urban areas. Here, we present the results of a near-surface survey carried out by jointly applying Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) methods. The survey was implemented in three different critical zones within the urban area of Matera (Piazza Duomo, Piazza San Giovanni, Villa dell&rsquo;Unit&agrave; d&rsquo;Italia). These test sites are of great interest for archaeological and architectonical studies and are affected by ground instability phenomena due to the presence of voids, cavities and other anthropic structures. The effectiveness of the survey was enhanced by the exploitation of advanced 3D tomographic approaches, which allowed to achieve 3D representation of the investigated underground and obtain information in terms of both the location and the geometry of buried objects and structures and the characterization of shallow geological layers. The results of the surveys are now under study (or have attracted the interest) of the Municipality in order to support smart cities programs and activities for a better management of the underground space