Microplastics and Alien Black Particles as Contaminants of Deep-Water Rose Shrimp (Parapenaeus longistroris Lucas, 1846) in the Central Mediterranean Sea

The detection of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts (GIT) of marine organisms has been recognized as among a major detrimental consequence of global plastic pollution. The effect of bioaccumulation may be potentially dangerous for food web transfer and consequently for human health. Several observational studies have been carried out in a wide range of marine organisms, including decapod crustaceans, such as the shore crab and Norway lobster; however, no specific study has been assessed on the deep-water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longistroris Lucas, 1846), an ecologically and commercially important Mediterranean crustacean. Based on this, we performed a preliminary study on the presence of microplastics in the GIT of 24 deep-water rose shrimp (DWRS) specimens, collected in the Strait of Sicily, which is among the most important fishing ground of the Mediterranean Sea. After the screening, 21% of DWRS GIT contained microplastics size range of 100 to 300 \ub5m. Specifically, 20% of them were spherical fragments, 40% were fibres and another 40% were tangled masses of filaments. In all specimens, alien black particles (BPs) (mean diameter about 50 \ub5m) were detected. Because the microscopical examination appeared not explanatory, different hypotheses could be formulated. We assume that these particles could be of either volcanoclastic particles (olivine \u2013 basalt phenocrysts or aggregates) related to historical/recent submarine volcanic activity that prevails in this fishing ground and or black carbon soot that had likely originated from the biomass burning and anthropogenic combustion sources, another harmful effect of the intense commercial and fishing traffic, characterising the central Mediterranean Sea

Changes of consultation-liaison psychiatry practice in Italian general hospitals: A comparative 20-year multicenter study

Conducted under the auspices of the Italian Society of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry (SIPC) the aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry (CLP) activity in Italy (SIPC-2-2018) over the past 20 years by comparing with data from the first Italian nation-wide study (SIPC-1-1998)

Tolerability of vortioxetine compared to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in older adults with major depressive disorder (VESPA): a randomised, assessor-blinded and statistician-blinded, multicentre, superiority trialResearch in context

Summary: Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is prevalent and disabling among older adults. Standing on its tolerability profile, vortioxetine might be a promising alternative to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in such a vulnerable population. Methods: We conducted a randomised, assessor- and statistician-blinded, superiority trial including older adults with MDD. The study was conducted between 02/02/2019 and 02/22/2023 in 11 Italian Psychiatric Services. Participants were randomised to vortioxetine or one of the SSRIs, selected according to common practice. Treatment discontinuation due to adverse events after six months was the primary outcome, for which we aimed to detect a 12% difference in favour of vortioxetine. The study was registered in the online repository clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03779789). Findings: The intention-to-treat population included 179 individuals randomised to vortioxetine and 178 to SSRIs. Mean age was 73.7 years (standard deviation 6.1), and 264 participants (69%) were female. Of those on vortioxetine, 78 (44%) discontinued the treatment due to adverse events at six months, compared to 59 (33%) of those on SSRIs (odds ratio 1.56; 95% confidence interval 1.01–2.39). Adjusted and per-protocol analyses confirmed point estimates in favour of SSRIs, but without a significant difference. With the exception of the unadjusted survival analysis showing SSRIs to outperform vortioxetine, secondary outcomes provided results consistent with a lack of substantial safety and tolerability differences between the two arms. Overall, no significant differences emerged in terms of response rates, depressive symptoms and quality of life, while SSRIs outperformed vortioxetine in terms of cognitive performance. Interpretation: As opposed to what was previously hypothesised, vortioxetine did not show a better tolerability profile compared to SSRIs in older adults with MDD in this study. Additionally, hypothetical advantages of vortioxetine on depression-related cognitive symptoms might be questioned. The study's statistical power and highly pragmatic design allow for generalisability to real-world practice. Funding: The study was funded by the Italian Medicines Agency within the “2016 Call for Independent Drug Research”