Marine Ecological Footprint of Italian Mediterranean Fisheries

The capacity of marine and coastal ecosystems to sustain seafood production and consumption is seldom accounted for and is not included in the signals that guide economic development. In this article, we review estimates of marine and coastal areas aimed at sustaining catches for seafood consumption. The aim of this paper is the assessment of the interactions between the environment, intended as a set of ecological subsystems in natural equilibrium, including the marine ecosystem, and the process of fisheries systems. In particular we analyze fisheries in Italy, which is the third biggest economy and the greatest consumer of seafood in the Eurozone, conducting an in-depth analysis of the Marine Ecological Footprint (MEF) that evaluates the marine ecosystem area exploited by human populations to supply seafood and other marine products and services. The positioning of Italian fisheries shows a level of sustainability next to the threshold value. The analysis in the present study highlights the importance of absolute indicators in providing rough estimates about human dependence on ecological systems and recognizes the importance of those indicators, such as the Marine Footprint (expressed in % of Primary Production Required/Primary Production), in ensuring a high level of precision and accuracy in quantifying human activity impact on the environment

Mealworms for Food: A Water Footprint Perspective

In this paper, we have explored the possibility of substituting traditional meat products with an alternative source of protein (insects) in order to reduce human pressure on water. Insects, in fact, could represent a good alternative source of quality proteins and nutrients and they are already a very popular component of the diet of one third of the world's population in approximately 80% of countries. In the study, we have taken into account only two species of edible insects (Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio mealworms), because they are already commercially produced even in Western countries, and for this reason it is possible to find specific data in literature about their diets. We have used the water footprint (WF) as a reliable indicator to calculate the volume of water required for production and to compare different products. The final aim of the work is, in fact, to evaluate the WF of the production of edible insects with a focus on water consumption associated with protein content, in order to make a comparison with other animal protein sources. We have demonstrated that, from a freshwater resource perspective, it is more efficient to obtain protein through mealworms rather than other traditional farmed animals

Neoadjuvant approach as a platform for treatment personalization: focus on HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer.

The neoadjuvant setting provides unquestionable clinical benefits for high-risk breast cancer (BC) patients, mainly in terms of expansion of locoregional treatment options and prognostic stratification. Additionally, it is also emerging as a strategical tool in the research field. In the present review, by focusing on HER2-positive and triple-negative subtypes, we examined the role of the neoadjuvant setting as a research platform to facilitate and rationalize the placement of escalation strategies, promote the adoption of biomarker-driven approaches for the investigation of de-escalated treatments, and foster the conduction of comprehensive translational analyses, thus ultimately aiming at pursuing treatment personalization. The solid prognostic role of pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant therapy, and its use as a surrogate endpoint to accelerate the drug approval process were discussed. In this context, available data on escalated treatment strategies capable of enhancing pathologic complete response (pCR) rate or improving prognosis of patients with residual disease (RD) after neoadjuvant treatment, were comprehensively reviewed. We also summarized evidence regarding the possibility of obtaining pCR with de-escalated strategies, with particular emphasis on the role of biomarker-driven approaches for patient selection. Pitfalls of the dichotomy of pCR/RD were also deepened, and data on alternative/complementary biomarkers with a possible clinical relevance in this regard were reviewed

Biomarkers for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: Beyond hormone receptors.

The overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) results in a biologically and clinically aggressive breast cancer (BC) subtype. Since the introduction of anti-HER2 targeted agents, survival rates of patients with HER2-positive metastatic BC have dramatically improved. Currently, although the treatment decision process in metastatic BC is primarily based on HER2 and hormone-receptor (HR) status, a rapidly growing body of data suggests that several other sources of biological heterogeneity may characterize HER2-positive metastatic BC. Moreover, pivotal clinical trials of new anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugates showed encouraging results in HER2-low metastatic BC, thus leading to the possibility, in the near future, to expand the pool of patients suitable for HER2-targeted treatments. The present review summarizes and puts in perspective available evidence on biomarkers that hold the greatest promise to become potentially useful tools for optimizing HER2-positive metastatic BC patients' prognostic stratification and treatment in the next future. These biomarkers include HER2 levels and heterogeneity, HER3, intrinsic molecular subtypes by PAM50 analysis, DNA mutations, and immune-related factors. Molecular discordance between primary and metastatic tumors is also discussed

Exceptional and Durable Responses to TDM-1 After Trastuzumab Failure for Breast Cancer Skin Metastases: Potential Implications of an Immunological Sanctuary

Breast Cancer (BC) skin metastases represent a challenging clinical scenario. Although they usually arise when other distant metastases are already present, they may also represent a form of locoregional recurrence (LRR). Systemic therapy in this setting may have a role both in case a radical locoregional approach is unfeasible in order to achieve disease control, and as adjuvant strategy after radical removal of cutaneous lesions, in order to prevent or delay subsequent disease spread. Systemic therapy for HER2+ metastatic BC (MBC) currently relies on anti-HER2 targeted agents. In this context TDM1 is an option in trastuzumab-resistant patients.Here we present 2 cases of isolated skin metastases in patients with HER2+ BC progressing during or early after trastuzumab-based therapy, showing impressive responses to TDM1. We hypothesize that the unique properties of skin immune microenvironment may explain the failure of trastuzumab, which exerts its action also through immunological mechanisms, and the subsequent outlier responses to TDM1, that relies on a partially different mechanism of action

social media and environmental sustainability an overview of european countries

The theme of the relationship between social media and sustainability has prompted many scholars to analyze the impact that "virtual information" has on the environment. This study empirically tests two models that examine the effects of cultural values and social media on environmental performance by considering different variables such as Social Media penetration, Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions and Environmental Performance Index. Two multiple linear regression models were employed to test the hypotheses on a sample of 30 European Countries.Empirical results, extensible to all of Europe, conclude that the cultural dimensions analyzed, as well as social media penetration, significantly influence environmental performance of European Countries when we execute a combined model.Social media are arguably an integral part of sustainability strategy and future research on IT and sustainability needs to take a more integrated approach. If we consider that social media have a positive effect on the environment it is easy to intuit that if governance implements effective policies to ensure social media access for everyone, real sustainable development could be achieved

Marine Fisheries and Mariculture in Croatia: Economic and Trade Analysis

The aim of this paper is to identify the state and trends in Croatian marine resource sector which determine the trade balance with Italy. Firstly, size and the structure of the marine fisheries in Croatia are investigated taking into account time trends and the effects of the EU common market policy. Furthermore, we compared the size of export and import of the fishery products. In particular, we look at the relevant indicator of trade with Italy. Since the wholesale market places are established with difficulties in Croatia, the trade channels of the marine fishery products are rather heterogeneous. Next, the market size and structure are analyzed for the specific markets, together with the analysis of the information asymmetry problems. The analysis results with several findings including that the total fish catch volume is accompanied by a decrease in fish catch value. Furthermore, the gap between Italian and Croatian catches in the Mediterranean Sea shrink, and more fish products are exported from Croatia to Italy than imported from Italy to Croatia. The average size of Croatian fishing fleet vessel is still much lower than the average fishing vessel size arriving at Croatian ports. Finally, fish market is underdeveloped in Croatia with low value added created along the trading chains

Exceptional and Durable Responses to TDM-1 After Trastuzumab Failure for Breast Cancer Skin Metastases: Potential Implications of an Immunological Sanctuary

Breast Cancer (BC) skin metastases represent a challenging clinical scenario. Although they usually arise when other distant metastases are already present, they may also represent a form of locoregional recurrence (LRR). Systemic therapy in this setting may have a role both in case a radical locoregional approach is unfeasible in order to achieve disease control, and as adjuvant strategy after radical removal of cutaneous lesions, in order to prevent or delay subsequent disease spread. Systemic therapy for HER2+ metastatic BC (MBC) currently relies on anti-HER2 targeted agents. In this context TDM1 is an option in trastuzumab-resistant patients.Here we present 2 cases of isolated skin metastases in patients with HER2+ BC progressing during or early after trastuzumab-based therapy, showing impressive responses to TDM1. We hypothesize that the unique properties of skin immune microenvironment may explain the failure of trastuzumab, which exerts its action also through immunological mechanisms, and the subsequent outlier responses to TDM1, that relies on a partially different mechanism of action