Proyecto de intervenciòn psicoterapéutica y psicosocial a pìe de calli: “no pases de largo: historias del bottellòn” (Progetto di intervento psicoterapeutico e psicosociale di strada: “non girare alla larga: storie di bottiglia”

Riflessioni sull’articol

Impacts of a newly identified behaviour-altering trematode on its host amphipod: from the level of gene expression to population

Changes to host behaviour induced by some trematode species, as a means of increased trophic transmission, represents one of the seminal examples of host manipulation by a parasite. The amphipod Echinogammarus marinus (Leach, 1815) is infected with a previously undescribed parasite, with infected individuals displaying positive phototaxic and negative geotaxic behaviour. This study reveals that the unknown parasite encysts in the brain, nerve cord and the body cavity of E. marinus, and belongs to the Microphallidae family. An 18 month population study revealed that host abundance significantly and negatively correlated with parasite prevalence. Investigation of the trematode's influence at the transcriptomic level revealed genes with putative neurological functions, such as serotonin receptor 1A, an inebriated-like neurotransmitter, tryptophan hydroxylase and amino acid decarboxylase, present consistent altered expression in infected animals. Therefore, this study provides one of the first transcriptomic insights into the neuronal gene pathways altered in amphipods infected with a trematode parasite associated with changes to its host's behaviour and population structure

Diagnosis and complications of Cushing's disease: gender-related differences.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Cushing's disease (CD) presents a remarkable preponderance in female gender, with a female-to-male ratio of 3-8:1. The aim of this study was to evaluate gender-related differences in the presentation of CD, as regards: biochemical indices of hypercortisolism; sensitivity of diagnostic tests; clinical features and complications of disease. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 84 adult patients with CD, 67 women and 17 men, evaluated at diagnosis. We compared the features of the disease between the sexes and analysed the effect of gender on CD complications, adjusted for potential confounders (age, gonadal status, BMI, urinary free cortisol values). RESULTS: We observed no differences between males and females as regards age at diagnosis, disease duration and BMI. Men, compared with women, presented higher urinary free cortisol values (P < 0\ub7001) and ACTH values (P < 0\ub705). As regards diagnostic tests, men presented a lower ACTH response to DDAVP stimulation (P < 0\ub705). The pituitary tumour itself was less easily visualized by pituitary MRI in males compared with females (P < 0\ub705). Furthermore, some complications of disease were more frequent or more severe in men, in particular hypokalaemia (P < 0\ub705), hypercoagulable state and osteoporosis at lumbar spine (P < 0\ub701), with consequent higher risk of vertebral fractures. Male gender was found to be an independent risk factor for dyslipidaemia, severity of hypertension, lumbar osteoporosis and fractures. CONCLUSIONS: Although CD is less frequent in male patients, in this gender, it presents with more florid clinical manifestations and may imply more diagnostic difficulties