Coral Pigments: Quantification Using HPLC and Detection by Remote Sensing

Widespread coral bleaching (loss of pigments of symbiotic dinoflagellates), and the corresponding decline in coral reef health worldwide, mandates the monitoring of coral pigmentation. Samples of the corals Porites compressa and P. lobata were collected from a healthy reef at Puako, Hawaii, and chlorophyll (chl) a, peridinin, and Beta-carotene (Beta-car) were quantified using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Detailed procedures are presented for the extraction of the coral pigments in 90% acetone, and the separation, identification, and quantification of the major zooxanthellar pigments using spectrophotometry and a modification of the HPLC system described by Mantoura and Llewellyn (1983). Beta-apo-8-carotenal was found to be inadequate as in internal standard, due to coelution with chl b and/or chl a allomer in the sample extracts. Improvements are suggested, which may result in better resolution of the major pigments and greater accuracy in quantification. Average concentrations of peridinin, chl a, and Beta-car in corals on the reef were 5.01, 8.59, and 0.29, micro-grams/cm(exp 2), respectively. Average concentrations of peridinin and Beta-car did not differ significantly between the two coral species sampled; however, the mean chl a concentration in P. compressa specimens (7.81 ,micro-grams/cm(exp 2) was significantly lower than that in P. lobata specimens (9.96 11g/cm2). Chl a concentrations determined spectrophotometrically were significantly higher than those generated through HPLC, suggesting that spectrophotometry overestimates chl a concentrations. The average ratio of chl a-to-peridinin concentrations was 1.90, with a large (53%) coefficient of variation and a significant difference between the two species sampled. Additional data are needed before conclusions can be drawn regarding average pigment concentrations in healthy corals and the consistency of the chl a/peridinin ratio. The HPLC pigment concentration values contribute to the limited database of pigment concentrations in healthy corals, from which quantitative definitions of 'healthy' vs. 'bleached' coral may emerge. They also serve as ground-truth, corresponding to fluorescence data collected from the reef at Puako using airborne remote sensing of laser induced fluorescence. Fluorescence spectra from several overflights using the NASA AOL (airborne oceanographic lidar) system show consistent chlorphyll fluorescence peaks around 685 nm, as well as consistence peaks in the 400-600 nm range which may emanate from granules in the coral tissue. These data, along with results from previous studies of coral fluorescence, suggest that remote sensing of laser-induced fluorescence may become a rapid and efficient means of monitoring coral pigmentation and coral reef bleaching

Heart failure and anti tumor necrosis factor-alpha in systemic chronic inflammatory diseases.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) antagonists have emerged as an effective therapy for patients with diseases as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other chronic systemic inflammatory diseases. In the last years, there has been a growing interest in the role that inflammatory cytokines, which sustain the pathogenesis of these diseases, plays in regulating cardiac structure and function, particularly in the progression of chronic heart failure. In fact there is an increase of anti-TNF alpha levels in advanced heart failure but the treatment with anti-TNF alpha has been shown to worsen the prognosis of heart failure in randomized controlled trials. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and anti-TNF alpha therapy seems to be beneficial on the risk of cardiovascular disease. In Crohn's disease the increased risk of cardiovascular disease is controversial and therefore it is impossible to demonstrate an effect in reduction of the risk; however, heart failure in patients treated with anti-TNF alpha, despite in a small proportion, has been observed. On the basis of this observation, anti-TNF alpha therapy is contraindicated in patients with Crohn's disease and III-IV New York Heart Association heart failure class

Karyological data of two Sicilian endemic Centaurea species

Chromosome numbers are given for 2 Centaurea species endemic to Sicily. For both studied taxa, Centaurea valdemonensis and C. virescens, the somatic chromosome number, found on material from their loci classici, is diploid (2n = 18)

An overview and update on bone lesion in craniofacial bones

Pathologists infrequently see cases of bone tumours, which are rare entities, and their diagnosis is challenging. To achieve the correct diagnosis and for patients to be offered optimal treatment, it is critical that a multidisciplinary specialised team is involved. The last decade has seen exceptional advances in the molecular classification of bone tumours, which have not only made reaching diagnoses easier, but also makes the subspeciality an exciting area of research. Bone tumours are classified based on their histological features, irrespective of the anatomical site in which the tumour presents; however, not every tumour fits nicely into these categories as some share features. Bone tumours must be diagnosed in the context of the radiology, patient's symptoms, signs and family history. This article reviews key clinical, histologic features of bone tumours and highlights the recent advances made in understanding the pathology of bone lesions in the head and neck region

Utility of noninvasive methods for the characterization of nonalcoholic liver steatosis in the family practice. The "VARES" Italian multicenter study.

The diagnostic utilities of ultrasonography (US), fatty liver index (FLI) and an algorithm of nine serum markers (Fibromax) were evaluated in family practice to noninvasively characterize patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A multicenter study was conducted by enrolling 259 consecutively observed patients (age 51 ± 10 years) with clinical and ultrasonographic features of NAFLD . Patients had mild (16.2%), moderate (69.9%), or severe (13.9%) liver steatosis and 60.2% had hypertransaminasemia. The percent of patients with overweight, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were 42.7%, 46.5% (4.2% severe obesity), 24.7%, 40.9%, and 56.4% , respectively. Lean patients (10.8%) had normal transaminases in two/ thirds of the cases. A multivariate logistic regression (including age > 50 yrs, BMI > 30 kg/m 2 , HOMA > 3, and hypertransaminasemia) identified 12.3% of patients at risk for steatohepatitis. With a sensitivity of 50% and specificity of 94.7%, Fibromax identified 34 patients (13.1%) with likely advanced fibrosis and found that over 28% of patients with moderate (ultrasonographic) steatosis were likely to be carrying severe steatosis. Steatotest score was significantly associated with BMI, waist circumference, ALT, triglycerides, and FLI. Fibrotest correlated only with ALT. FLI identified 73.4% of patients as likely to be carrying a fatty liver. In conclusion, NAFLD should be systematically searched and characterized in all patients with metabolic disturbances and cardiovascular risk. Asymptomatic subjects at risk also should be screened for NAFLD. Fibromax is a promising noninvasive diagnostic tool in family medicine for identifying patients at risk for NAFLD who require targeted follow-up

INVERSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AORTIC ROOT DIAMETER AND RENAL FUNCTION IN HYPERTENSIVE SUBJECTS

Recent studies suggest that enlarged aortic root diameter (ARD) may predict cardiovascular events in absence of aneurysmatic alterations. Little is known about the influence of renal function on ARD. Our study was aimed to assess the relationships between glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and ARD in hypertensive subjects

A GIANT ANEURYSM OF PROPER HEPATIC ARTERY IN A CRYOGLOBULINEMIC PATIENT ON HEMODIALYSIS: A CASE REPORT.

Introductrion. Hepatic artery aneurysms (HAAs) are unusual vascular lesions often associated with many different pathological conditions. Most of reported cases are described in association with connective tissue diseases, such as polyarteritis nodosa and systemic lupus erythematosus. Case report. We observed a 52-year-old man with hypertension and HCV-related cryoglobulinemia complicated by end stage renal disease on replacement therapy by hemodialysis. He was admitted to our hospital because of the worsening of blood pressure values (170/110 mmHg) associated to new onset abdominal pain. After an initial physical examination, that showed a periumbelical bruit associated to a pulsatile mass in right hypocondrium, an abdominal ultrasound was performed with evidence of aneurysms of both the right branch (diameter max 4,5 cm) and the left branch (diameter max 1.5 cm) of the hepatic artery. An abdominal CT study was also performed and it confirmed the diagnosis of right intrahepatic artery aneurysm with partially thrombosed area in its peripheral distal portion. Discussion. Many different factors can contribute to the aneurysm formation in this patient. Vasculitic involvement due to cryoglobulinemic disease, therapy with steroid drugs, inflammatory state associated to HCV-related hepatitis, chronic kidney disease and replacement therapy by hemodialysis may all be involved in the development of the aneurysmatic hepatic lesion

Comparison of the intestinal microbiome of italian patients with multiple sclerosis and their household relatives

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system, caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. In recent years, a role in MS pathogenesis was assigned to the gut microbiota. However, different signatures of gut dysbiosis have been shown to depend on environmental factors, like diet and lifestyle. In this study, we compared the gut microbiome in MS patients and their household healthy relatives sharing lifestyle and environmental factors. Faecal metagenomic DNA was extracted and the V3-V4 regions of the conserved bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene were amplified and sequenced. While overall bacterial communities were similar, specific families differed between healthy and MS subjects. We observed an increase in Ruminococcaceae, Christensenellaceae, Desulfovibrionaceae, Clostridiales, and Family XIII in MS patients, while Bacteroidaceae, Tannerellaceae, Veillonellaceae, and Burkholderiaceae were more abundant in healthy controls. In addition, principle coordinate analysis showed that the gut microbiome of all MS patients formed a cluster being less diverse than the household relatives and that gut microbiota of MS patients with EDSS 4.5-7 formed a distinct cluster in respect to their controls. Overall, our study is consistent with the hypothesis that MS patients have gut microbial dysbiosis and evidenced the importance of environmental factors in shaping the gut microbiome

BILATERAL RENAL ARTERY STENOSIS IN A HYPERTENSIVE LUPUS PATIENT WITHOUT RENAL DYSFUNCTION: A CASE REPORT

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with a high prevalence of atherosclero-sis and an enhanced cardiovascular mortality. In adult subjects, several studies have shown the coexistence of SLE and renal artery stenosis, most of them with unilateral in-volvement or with renal dysfunction. We observed a 62-year-old man with SLE and a 10-year history of moderate-to-severe hy-pertension who was admitted to our hospital because of uncontrolled blood pressure val-ues (152/95 mmHg), despite drug therapy. No signs of renal impairment were evident. After an initial physical examination, which presented a periumbilical bruit, a renal ultra-sound was performed with evidence of bilateral renal artery stenosis. An angio-MR study also confirmed the diagnosis and showed a double renal artery on the right side. Many different factors can contribute to the bilateral renal artery stenosis in this patient. Chronic inflammatory state associated to SLE, metabolic alterations with dyslipidemia and steroid therapy may all be involved in the development of the renal atherosclerotic le-sions