*SICUREZZA ALIMENTARE DELLE MACELLERIE NEL NUORESE: EFFETTI DELL’ EVOLUZIONE STRUTTURALE E NORMATIVA

I cambiamenti nelle abitudini alimentari dei consumatori e la relativa minore disponibilità di tempo da dedicare alla cucina, hanno avuto grande influenza sul settore della vendita al dettaglio delle carni. Presenza sempre maggiore dei supermercati e arrivo della grande distribuzione organizzata (GDO); nei paesi del Nuorese questi cambiamenti sono arrivati un po’ dopo che in altre zone d’Italia. A partire da una analisi delle tipologie di punto vendita carni agli inizi del 1990 e confrontandola con la situazione di 2 decenni dopo, si descrive la loro evoluzione strutturale. Contemporaneamente si descrive la contestuale evoluzione delle strategie per la sicurezza alimentare in arrivo col recepimento delle Direttive comunitarie da parte del nostro paese e i suoi effetti sulla gestione igienico-sanitaria delle macellerie. In particolare si approfondisce l’importanza dell’ormai famosa direttiva 93/43/CEE riguardante l'igiene dei prodotti alimentari e recepita in Italia con il DLgs 155 /97, e sul successivo e altrettanto famoso Pacchetto Igiene . in un capitolo a parte viene inquadrata la figura del Vigile Sanitario a partire dal R.D. 6 luglio 1890 fino al Tecnico della Prevenzione istituito col D.M. 17 gennaio 1997 n.58. Obiettivo principale è quindi quello di valutare, attraverso la raccolta, l’elaborazione e l’analisi dei dati a disposizione del Servizio Veterinario della ASL di Nuoro, in che modo le modifiche avvenute nell’ultimo decennio nell’ambito della legislazione alimentare abbiano influito sulla gestione e sulle condizioni igienico-sanitarie delle macellerie del nuorese. In particolare, attraverso l’osservazione e lo studio dei dati risultanti dai rapporti di prova delle analisi microbiologiche di laboratorio effettuate sui prodotti a base di carne e sulle superfici, al fine di estrapolare delle indicazioni generali sulla situazione igienica delle macellerie in un arco temporale che va dal 1993 al 2010. Al fine del raggiungimento degli obiettivi previsti dal presente lavoro, sono stati raccolti, elaborati ed analizzati una serie di dati ufficiali, osservazioni e dati d’ufficio, relativi ai punti vendita delle carni, in possesso del Servizio Igiene degli Alimenti di O.A. della ASL n.3 di Nuoro, nel periodo che và dal 1993 al 2010. Si è evidenziato con questo lavoro, da un lato un miglioramento sostanziale delle condizioni igieniche generali di tutte le superfici (piani di lavoro e materiali a contatto con gli alimenti), dall’altro un miglioramento del profilo microbico dei “nuovi” prodotti di macelleria, che durante l’arco di tempo considerato (1994-2010) sono andati sempre più diffondendosi

Applicazione dell’analisi d’immagine allo studio della frazione fogliare della comunità epifita di <i>Posidonia oceanica</i> (L.) Delile = Use of the image analysis technique to study the epiphytic population on the <i>Posidonia oceanica</i> (l.) Delile leaves

The chromatism of Posidonia oceanica leaves and their epiphytes is different and species specific. The application of the image analysis technique facilitates both the calculation of total leaf surface covered by epiphytes and predominant epiphyte species. The two sides of the leaf show strong species- and depth-specific differences

HPRTSardinia: a new point mutation causing HPRT deficiency without Lesch–Nyhan disease

AbstractHypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) deficiency always causing hyperuricemia presents various degrees of neurological manifestations, the most severe which is Lesch–Nyhan syndrome. The HPRT gene is situated in the region Xq26-q27.2 and consists of 9 exons. At least 300 different mutations at different sites in the HPRT coding region from exon 1 to exon 9 have been identified. A new mutation in the HPRT gene has been determined in one patient with complete deficiency of erythrocyte activity, with hyperuricemia and gout but without Lesch–Nyhan disease. Analysis of cultured fibroblasts revealed minimal residual HPRT activity mainly when guanine was the substrate. Genomic DNA sequencing demonstrated patient's mother heterozygosity for the mutation and no mutation in her brother. The mutation consists in a C→T transversion at cDNA base 463 (C463T) in exon 6, resulting in proline to serine substitution at codon 155 (P155S). This mutation had not been reported previously and has been designated HPRTSardinia. The mutation identified in this patient allows some expression of functional enzyme in nucleated cells such as fibroblasts, indicating that such cell type may add further information to conventional blood analysis. A multicentre survey gathering patients with variant neurological forms could contribute to understand the pathophysiology of the neurobehavioral symptoms of HPRT deficiency

Esa Caves: training astronauts for space exploration

The first spaceflight was several decades ago, and yet extraterrestrial exploration is only at the beginning and has mainly been carried out by robotic probes and rovers sent to extraterrestrial planets and deep space. In the future human extraterrestrial exploration will take place and to get ready for long periods of permanence in space, astronauts are trained during long duration missions on the International Space Station (ISS). To prepare for such endeavours, team training activities are performed in extreme environments on Earth, as isolated deserts, base camps on Antarctica, or stations built on the bottom of the sea, trying to simulate the conditions and operations of space. Space agencies are also particularly interested in the search of signs of life forms in past or present extreme natural environments, such as salt lakes in remote deserts, very deep ocean habitats, submarine volcanic areas, sulphuric acid caves, and lava tubes. One natural environment that very realistically mimics an extraterrestrial exploration habitat is the cave. Caves are dark, remote places, with constant temperature, many logistic problems and stressors (isolation, communication and supply difficulties, physical barriers), and their exploration requires discipline, teamwork, technical skills and a great deal of behavioural adaptation. For this reason, since 2008 the European Space Agency has carried out training activities in the subterranean environment and the CAVES project is one of those training courses, probably the most realistic one. CAVES stands for Cooperative Adventure for Valuing and Exercising human behaviour and performance Skills, and is meant as a multidisciplinary multicultural team exploration mission in a cave. It has been developed by ESA in the past few years (2008-2011) and is open for training of astronauts of the ISS Partner Space Agencies (USA, Russia, Japan, Canada, and Europe). Astronauts are first trained for 5 days to explore, document and survey a karst system, then take on a cave exploration mission for 6 days underground. A team of expert cave instructors, a Human Behaviour and Performance facilitator, scientists and video reporters, ensure that all tasks are performed in complete safety and guides all these astronauts\u27 activities. During the underground mission the astronauts\u27 technical competences are challenged (exploring, surveying, taking pictures), their human behaviour and decision-making skills are debriefed, and they are required to carry out an operational programme which entails performing scientific tasks and testing equipment, similarly to what they are required to do on the ISS. The science program includes environmental and air circulation monitoring, mineralogy, microbiology, chemical composition of waters, and search for life forms adapted to the cavern environment. The CAVES 2012 Course will be explained and the first interesting scientific results will be presented

Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced colorectal cancers at diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all 17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period), in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was 30 days from surgery. EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery, palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery, and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster variable. RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years) underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142 (56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P &lt; .001), and stenotic lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for these patients

Immunoreactivity of the salivary protein statherin in human male accessory sex glands

BACKGROUND: Statherin is a small phosphoprotein chiefly studied for its protective roles towards teeth and oral tissues. Although generally considered as exclusively secreted by salivary glands, circumstantial evidences suggested that other tissues also produce it. This article first demonstrates statherin immunoreactivity in human prostate and seminal vesicles. METHODS: Surgical samples of prostate and seminal vesicles were fixed in a mixture of paraformaldehyde and glutaraldehyde, and embedded in Epon resin without previous osmication. Ultrathin sections were treated for the intracellular localization of statherin by means of an immunogold staining method. RESULTS: Reactive statherin was revealed in secreting cells of both seminal vesicle and prostate epithelia: labeling was found in secretory granules of seminal vesicle cells and in cytoplasmic vesicles of prostatic cells. CONCLUSIONS: The different staining patterns suggested that the two glands secrete statherin through different pathways

ESA CAVES: TRAINING ASTRONAUTS FOR SPACE EXPLORATION

The first spaceflight was several decades ago, and yet extraterrestrial exploration is only at the beginning and has mainly been carried out by robotic probes and rovers sent to extraterrestrial planets and deep space. In the future human extraterrestrial exploration will take place and to get ready for long periods of permanence in space, astronauts are trained during long duration missions on the International Space Station (ISS). To prepare for such endeavours, team training activities are performed in extreme environments on Earth, as isolated deserts, base camps on Antarctica, or stations built on the bottom of the sea, trying to simulate the conditions and operations of space. Space agencies are also particularly interested in the search of signs of life forms in past or present extreme natural environments, such as salt lakes in remote deserts, very deep ocean habitats, submarine volcanic areas, sulphuric acid caves, and lava tubes. One natural environment that very realistically mimics an extraterrestrial exploration habitat is the cave. Caves are dark, remote places, with constant temperature, many logistic problems and stressors (isolation, communication and supply difficulties, physical barriers), and their exploration requires discipline, teamwork, technical skills and a great deal of behavioural adaptation. For this reason, since 2008 the European Space Agency has carried out training activities in the subterranean environment and the CAVES project is one of those training courses, probably the most realistic one. CAVES stands for Cooperative Adventure for Valuing and Exercising human behaviour and performance Skills, and is meant as a multidisciplinary multicultural team exploration mission in a cave. It has been developed by ESA in the past few years (2008–2011) and is open for training of astronauts of the ISS Partner Space Agencies (USA, Russia, Japan, Canada, and Europe). Astronauts are first trained for 5 days to explore, document and survey a karst system, then take on a cave exploration mission for 6 days underground. A team of expert cave instructors, a Human Behaviour and Performance facilitator, scientists and video reporters, ensure that all tasks are performed in complete safety and guides all these astronauts’ activities. During the underground mission the astronauts’ technical competences are challenged (exploring, surveying, taking pictures), their human behaviour and decision-making skills are debriefed, and they are required to carry out an operational programme which entails performing scientific tasks and testing equipment, similarly to what they are required to do on the ISS. The science program includes environmental and air circulation monitoring, mineralogy, microbiology, chemical composition of waters, and search for life forms adapted to the cavern environment. The CAVES 2012 Course will be explained and the first interesting scientific results will be presented