Benthic foraminifers and siliceous sponge spicules assemblages in the Quaternary rhodolith rich sediments from Pontine Archipelago shelf

The bottom samples (Quaternary in age) of two cores (CS1 and Caro1) collected at 60 and 122 m water depth in the marine area near Ponza Island (Pontine Archipelago, Tyrrhenian Sea) are investigated. In particular, benthic foraminifers and siliceous sponge spicules are considered. The coralline red algae (pralines, boxworks and unattached branches) are abundant in both samples and, particularly, in the CS1 bottom as well as the benthic foraminifers. The siliceous sponge spicules also are very diversified and abundant in the CS1 bottom sample, while in the Caro1 bottom they are rare and fragmented. Benthic foraminiferal assemblage of two samples is dominated by Asterigerinata mamilla and Lobatula lobatula, typical epiphytic species but also able to live on circalittoral detrital seafloors, adapting to an epifaunal lifestyle. Based on these data the bottom of the studied cores represents the upper circalittoral zone, within the present-day depth limit distribution of coralline red algae in the Pontine Archipelago (shallower than 100 m water depth)

Benthic foraminiferal assemblages and rhodolith facies evolution in post-LGM sediments from the Pontine Archipelago shelf (Central Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy)

The seabed of the Pontine Archipelago (Tyrrhenian Sea) insular shelf is peculiar as it is characterized by a mixed siliciclastic–carbonate sedimentation. In order to reconstruct the Late Quaternary paleoenvironmental evolution of the Pontine Archipelago, this study investigates the succession of facies recorded by two sediment cores. For this purpose, benthic foraminifera and rhodoliths assemblages were considered. The two cores (post-Last Glacial Maximum in age) were collected at 60 (CS1) and 122 m (Caro1) depth on the insular shelf off Ponza Island. The paleontological data were compared with seismo-stratigraphic and lithological evidence. The cores show a deepening succession, with a transition from a basal rhodolith-rich biodetritic coarse sand to the surface coralline-barren silty sand. This transition is more evident along core Caro1 (from the bottom to the top), collected at a deeper water depth than CS1. In support of this evidence, along Caro1 was recorded a fairly constant increase in the amount of planktonic foraminiferal and a marked change in benthic foraminiferal assemblages (from Asterigerinata mamilla and Lobatula lobatula assemblage to Cassidulina carinata assemblage). Interestingly, the dating of the Caro1 bottom allowed us to extend to more than 13,000 years BP the rhodolith record in the Pontine Archipelago, indicating the possible presence of an active carbonate factory at that time

The Role of Acetyl-Carnitine and Rehabilitation in the Management of Patients with Post-COVID Syndrome: Case-Control Study

Post-COVID syndrome is characterized by the persistence of nonspecific disabling symptoms, even several months after the resolution of the infection, with clinical characteristics similar to fibromyalgia (FM) and a prevalence of 31%. We evaluated the effectiveness of physical exercise, in association with L-acetyl-carnitine (ALC) therapy, in patients with Post-COVID syndrome, on musculoskeletal pain, dyspnea, functional capacity, quality of life, and depression. We conducted an observational case-control study on patients with Post-COVID syndrome. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: a treatment group that received rehabilitation treatment in combination with ALC 500 mg therapy; a control group that received only rehabilitation treatment. Patients were assessed at the time of recruitment (T0) and one month after the end of therapy (T1), with the administration of rating scales: NRS, Barthel Dyspnea Index (NPI), 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) scale, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The treatment group showed statistically higher variations in pain scores, quality of life, and depression. No statistically significant differences between the two groups emerged regarding changes in dyspnea and functional capacity scores. Combining exercise with ALC is a promising and effective treatment in the management of Post-COVID syndrome, especially for musculoskeletal pain, depression, and quality of life

Withdrawal of mechanical ventilation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: a multicenter Italian survey

Background: Law 219/2017 was approved in Italy in December 2017, after a years-long debate on the autonomy of healthcare choices. This Law, for the first time in Italian legislation, guarantees the patient's right to request for withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments, including mechanical ventilation (MV). Objective: To investigate the current status of MV withdrawal in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients in Italy and to assess the impact of Law 219/2017 on this practice. Methods: We conducted a Web-based survey, addressed to Italian neurologists with expertise in ALS care, and members of the Motor Neuron Disease Study Group of the Italian Society of Neurology. Results: Out of 40 ALS Italian centers, 34 (85.0%) responded to the survey. Law 219/2017 was followed by an increasing trend in MV withdrawals, and a significant increase of neurologists involved in this procedure (p 0.004). However, variations across Italian ALS centers were observed, regarding the inconsistent involvement of community health services and palliative care (PC) services, and the intervention and composition of the multidisciplinary team. Conclusions: Law 219/2017 has had a positive impact on the practice of MV withdrawal in ALS patients in Italy. The recent growing public attention on end-of-life care choices, along with the cultural and social changes in Italy, requires further regulatory frameworks that strengthen tools for self-determination, increased investment of resources in community and PC health services, and practical recommendations and guidelines for health workers involved

Plio-Pleistocene foraminiferal assemblages of the Monte Mario site (Rome, Italy)

Tunnel construction at Monte Mario hill (Rome) facilitated detailed study of the Monte Mario historical succession. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed on foraminiferal assemblages in order to define new stratigraphical and palaeoecological constraints for this historical site. From a chronostratigraphic point of view, micropalaeontological data assign the basal part of the succession (Monte Vatican Formation) to the Early Pliocene (Zanclean Stage, upper part of Globorotalia puncticulata Zone) based on the presence of the marker species Globorotalia puncticulata. The presence of Dentoglobigerina altispira altispira, a well-known indicator of the upper Zanclean Stage in the Latium area, confirms the age assignment in agreement with nannoplankton data. The upper part of the Monte Mario Formation is attributed entirely to the Earls' Pleistocene (Calabrian - Santernian substage) based on the presence of Bulimina etnea Palaeoecological reconstructions are based on quantitative proxies (percentages of single taxa, inbenthic and oxyphilic species, diversity indices, %P [(P/P+B)%]) that were used to evaluate important palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic conditions. Pliocene deposits (Monte Vatican Formation) record an upper bathyal environment characterised by warm oligotrophic water and well-oxygenated bottom water Pleistocene sediments (Monte Mario Formation) record highly variable environments controlled by sea level oscillations caused by the combined effects of tectonics and climate change. The deepest environments are recorded in the Pleistocene Farneto silts and represent an upper circalittoral environments that are characterised by cold water with enriched organic matter content and nearly eutrophic conditions. A more oxygenated, shallow-water environment with widespread vegetated cover is recorded from the Grey sands with Arctica islandica Member to the basal part of the Yellow sands with "panchina" Member More marginal environments developed successively as a result of a shallowing trend. Lagoon/brackish lagoon environments characterised by oligospecific euryhaline foraminiferal assemblages develop to the Yellow sands with silty intercalations Member The last member Clays and Cerastoderma-bearing sands, is characterised by the re-establishment of of normal marine infralittoral conditions of nutrient input and fresh-water influence. The succession ends with a more confined brackish lagoon environment, which relates to the progradational step of the uppermost portion of the Monte Mario Formation

Ecological and climatic significance of Hyalinea balthica morphotypes in the Late Pleistocene-Holocene succession of Tiber delta area (Tyrrhenian margin, Italy)

[No abstract available