A methodological approach for the identification of sulphate sources in the Portoscuso area (south-western Sardinia)

Several detrimental effects due to intense industrial activities affect the groundwater of the Portoscuso area (SW Sardinia, Italy) such that the Italian Government has designed the whole territory as a contaminated site of national interest (D.M., March 12, 2003). Groundwater pollution is a crucial environmental issue in this area, where a volcanic ignimbrite succession up to 500 m thick outcrops, locally covered by sand deposits of variable thickness. Groundwater upgradient to the industrial district shows sulphate concentrations exceeding the background value of 450 mg/L calculated for the area (Vecchio et al., 2011). In order to verify the origin of sulphate, multidisciplinary investigations were carried out on the geochemical features and stable isotope ratios in groundwater

Patrones de distribución espacio temporal de las especies de macrúridos en el Mediterráneo norte

The present study describes for the first time the spatial distribution of five macrourid species throughout the Mediterranean Sea and analyses depth, geographical and time-related trends regarding their abundance, biomass and mean fish weight. The data were collected as part of the MEDITS annual bottom trawl survey carried out by several European Mediterranean countries from 1994 to 2015, using the same standardized gear and sampling protocol. The most represented species in terms of abundance and biomass was Coelorinchus caelorhincus. The bathymetric trend was different for each species. The shallowest occurring species was C. caelorhincus, followed by Hymenocephalus italicus and Nezumia sclerorhynchus, while Nezumia aequalis and Trachyrincus scabrus were the deepest. Overall, the mean weight of all the species increased with depth. C. caelorhincus and H. italicus occurred in the entire study area: the first species showed relatively high catches in most areas, while the second was more abundant in the central and easternmost areas. N. aequalis and T. scabrus were mainly reported in the western basin, and N. sclerorhynchus in the central-eastern areas of the Mediterranean. An increasing inter-annual trend in abundance was only detected for C. caelorhincus and N. sclerorhynchus, while variable fluctuations were observed in the other species.El presente estudio describe por primera vez la distribución espacial de cinco especies de macrúridos a lo largo del Mediterráneo en su vertiente europea, analizando las tendencias batimétricas, geográficas y temporales de la abundancia, la biomasa y el peso medio de las especies. Los datos utilizados provienen de las campañas de arrastre de fondo anuales, MEDITS, desde 1994 a 2015, llevadas a cabo por los países mediterráneos europeos utilizando un arte de arrastre y un protocolo de muestreo estandarizado. La especie más representativa en términos de abundancia y biomasa fue Coelorinchus caelorhincus. Las tendencias batimétricas fueron variables según la especie. La más costera fue C. caelorhincus seguida de Hymenocephalus italicus y Nezumia sclerorhynchus mientras que Nezumia aequalis y Trachyrincus scabrus son las que se localizaron a mayor profundidad. En general, el peso medio de las especies se incrementó con la profundidad. Geográficamente, C. caelorhincus e H. italicus se encontraron distribuidas a lo largo de toda el área de estudio: la primera mostró capturas relativamente elevadas en la mayoría de las áreas mientras que la segunda fue más abundante en las zonas central y oriental. N. aequalis y T. scabrus se capturaron fundamentalmente en la cuenca occidental mientras que N. sclerorhychus en las áreas centro-este del Mediterráneo. Únicamente se detectó incremento interanual en C. caelorhincus y N. sclerorhynchus, mientras que en el resto de las especies no se registó incremento ni descenso sino fluctuaciones interanuales

Genetic association study of QT interval highlights role for calcium signaling pathways in myocardial repolarization.

The QT interval, an electrocardiographic measure reflecting myocardial repolarization, is a heritable trait. QT prolongation is a risk factor for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD) and could indicate the presence of the potentially lethal mendelian long-QT syndrome (LQTS). Using a genome-wide association and replication study in up to 100,000 individuals, we identified 35 common variant loci associated with QT interval that collectively explain ∼8-10% of QT-interval variation and highlight the importance of calcium regulation in myocardial repolarization. Rare variant analysis of 6 new QT interval-associated loci in 298 unrelated probands with LQTS identified coding variants not found in controls but of uncertain causality and therefore requiring validation. Several newly identified loci encode proteins that physically interact with other recognized repolarization proteins. Our integration of common variant association, expression and orthogonal protein-protein interaction screens provides new insights into cardiac electrophysiology and identifies new candidate genes for ventricular arrhythmias, LQTS and SCD

Anti-gout drugs as potential therapy for atrial fibrillation

4.036 JCR (2014) Q1, 29/123 Cardiac and cardiovascular systemsUE

Limits of ventricular function: From athlete's heart to a failing heart

The interest in the study of ventricular function has grown considerably in the last decades. In this review, we analyse the extreme values of ventricular function as obtained with Doppler echocardiography. We mainly focus on the parameters that have been used throughout the history of Doppler echocardiography to assess left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function. The ‘athlete's heart’ would be the highest expression of ventricular function whereas its lowest expression is represented by the failing heart, independently from the original aetiology leading to this condition. There are, however, morphological similarities (dilation and hypertrophy) between the athlete's and the failing heart, which emerge as physiological and pathophysiological adaptations, respectively. The introduction of new assessment techniques, specifically speckle tracking, may provide new insight into the properties that determine ventricular filling, specifically left ventricular twisting. The concept of ventricular function must be always considered, although it may not be always possible to distinguish the normal heart of sedentary individuals from that of highly trained hearts based solely on echocardiographic or basic studies.Sin financiación2.600 JCR (2017) Q2, 39/83 Physiology0.876 SJR (2017) Q2, 708/2878 Medicine (miscellaneous), 52/107 Physiology (medical); Q3, 95/191 PhysiologyNo data IDR 2017UE

3D hydrogeological modelling supporting studies on the sources of manganese, sulphate and trichloromethane in groundwater at Portoscuso (Sardinia, Italy)

Portoscuso, South-Western Sardinia, volcanic aquifer, geometry of the aquifers, 3D hydrogeological modeling

Atrial fibrillation in highly trained endurance athletes: description of a syndrome

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart arrhythmia, the risk of which typically increases with age. This condition is commonly associated with major cardiovascular diseases and structural heart damage, while it is rarely observed in healthy young people. However, increasing evidence indicates that paroxysmal AF can also onset in young or middle-aged and otherwise healthy endurance athletes (e.g., cyclists, runners and cross-country skiers). Here we review the topic of AF associated with strenuous endurance exercise (SEE), for example cycling, running and cross-country skiing, especially at a competitive level, and we propose the definition of a new syndrome based on the accumulating data in the literature: SEE-related AF under the acronym of ‘PAFIYAMA’ (‘paroxysmal AF in young and middle-aged athletes’). Special emphasis is given to the proper differentiation of PAFIYAMA from ‘classical AF’ regarding pathophysiology, diagnosis and medical management.Sin financiación4.034 JCR (2017) Q2, 41/128 Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems1.200 SJR (2017) Q1, 78/369 Cardiology and Cardiovascular MedicineNo data IDR 2017UE

Additional file 1: of Metformin associated lactic acidosis: a case series of 28 patients treated with sustained low-efficiency dialysis (SLED) and long-term follow-up

Table S1. Comorbidities and precipitating factors associated with lactic acidosis (MALA). Death events are marked red. (PPTX 47 kb

Additional file 2: of Metformin associated lactic acidosis: a case series of 28 patients treated with sustained low-efficiency dialysis (SLED) and long-term follow-up

Figure S1. Incidence of MALA observed to our Division between January 2000 and September 2014. It is indicated the extensive educational campaign done by our Division for internal medicine and metabolism specialists. (PPTX 105 kb