New insights upon the reproductive biology of the sea cucumber Holothuria tubulosa (Echinodermata, Holothuroidea) in the Mediterranean: Implications for management and domestication

Holothuria tubulosa is one of the most common sea cucumber species inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its commercial interest for the international market, it has been harvested without proper management causing the overexploitation of its stocks. Inadequate management is also caused by lack of information on basic biology and ecology not allowing the estimating of the species vulnerability and resilience to growing anthropogenic pressures. In this paper, we have investigated basic life-history traits of H. tubulosa (population structure and reproductive cycle) in a population of Central-Western Mediterranean (Sardinia, Italy). A macroscopic maturity scale for both sexes was defined through an instrumental colorimetric analysis of the gonads and the ramification level of the gonad’s tubules, subsequently confirmed by histological analysis. The seasonal trend of the Gonado Somatic Index, the changes in color of the gonads and tubules ramification indicated that the spawning period of H. tubulosa was concentrated in summer with a peak in late August, closely related to the increase in water temperature. A synchronous development of the gonads, with a unique and short reproductive event during the year, was also detected. In conclusion, this study provides new evidence on the biological and ecological features of H. tubulosa, essential data for developing a scientifically-based stock assessment as well as conservative management at a local scale. Finally, we provided basic information for the domestication of broodstock in a conservative hatchery

Increased homocysteine and lipoprotein(a) levels highlight systemic atherosclerotic burden in patients with a history of acute coronary syndromes

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How priming with body odors affects decision speeds in consumer behavior

To date, odor research has primarily focused on the behavioral efects of common odors on consumer perception and choices. We report a study that examines, for the frst time, the efects of human body odor cues on consumer purchase behaviors. The infuence of human chemosignals produced in three conditions, namely happiness, fear, a relaxed condition (rest), and a control condition (no odor), were examined on willingness to pay (WTP) judgments across various products. We focused on the speed with which participants reached such decisions. The central fnding revealed that participants exposed to human odors reached decisions signifcantly faster than the no odor control group. The main driving force is that human body odors activate the presence of others during decision-making. This, in turn, afects response speed. The broader implications of this fnding for consumer behavior are discussed.Comunidade Europeia e Generalitat Valencianainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Thrombus aspiration in ST-elevation myocardial infarction: Does it actually impact long-term outcome?

Background: The effect of thrombus aspiration on mortality is still controversial, with results which are often inconsistent in different randomized trials, real world registries and differ­ent follow-up duration. The aim of this analysis was to assess the effect on 30-day and 1-year mortality of thrombus aspiration during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) compared with conventional PCI. Methods: We used data from all the consecutive STEMI patients treated either with conven­tional PCI or thrombus aspiration between January 1, 2004 and January 1, 2012. Propensity matching score was calculated on the basis of several baseline and procedural characteristics in order to predict the probability for each patient of having been treated with thrombus aspira­tion. This propensity score analysis was used in order to select a cohort of patients treated with thrombus aspiration matched one-to-one with patients treated with conventional PCI. Results: In total, 744 (53.1%) patients out of 1,400 enrolled were treated with thrombus as­piration. In the matched cohort, at 30-day follow-up 6.3% of patients in the conventional PCI group died compared to 4.7% in the thrombus aspiration group. The unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) for 30-day mortality was 1.01 (95% CI 0.33–3.14, p = 0.985). In the same cohort, 10.7% of patients died at 1-year in the conventional PCI group compared to 5.2% in the thrombus as­piration group. The 1-year unadjusted hazard ratio for mortality was 0.47 (95% CI 0.25–0.90, p = 0.025). The HR changed and was no longer significant after adjustment for differences in the use of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors, lesion pre-dilatation and pre-procedural TIMI flow: 0.71 (95% CI 0.36–1.39, p = 0.322). Conclusions: Thrombus aspiration does not influence 30-day mortality, however it is associated with 1-year survival benefit. GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors and thrombus aspiration may have an important synergistic role in leading to this long-term benefit

A multi-center output factor intercomparison to uncover systematic inaccuracies in small field dosimetry

Large uncertainties in output factor (OF) small fields dosimetry motivated multicentric studies. The focus of the study was the determination of the OFs, for different linacs and radiosurgery units, using new-generation detectors. Intercomparison studies between radiotherapy centers improved quality dosimetry practices. Results confirmed the effectiveness of the studies to uncover large systematic inaccuracies in small field dosimetry. Keywords: Multicentric studies, Small field dosimetry, Output factor

Involvement of phospholipase D and phosphatidic acid in the light-dependent up-regulation of sorghum leaf phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase-kinase

The photosynthetic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (C4-PEPC) is regulated by phosphorylation by a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase kinase (PEPC-k). In Digitaria sanguinalis mesophyll protoplasts, this light-mediated transduction cascade principally requires a phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) and a Ca2+-dependent step. The present study investigates the cascade components at the higher integrated level of Sorghum bicolor leaf discs and leaves. PEPC-k up-regulation required light and photosynthetic electron transport. However, the PI-PLC inhibitor U-73122 and inhibitors of calcium release from intracellular stores only partially blocked this process. Analysis of [32P]phosphate-labelled phospholipids showed a light-dependent increase in phospholipase D (PLD) activity. Treatment of leaf discs with n-butanol, which decreases the formation of phosphatidic acid (PA) by PLD, led to the partial inhibition of the C4-PEPC phosphorylation, suggesting the participation of PLD/PA in the signalling cascade. PPCK1 gene expression was strictly light-dependent. Addition of neomycin or n-butanol decreased, and a combination of both inhibitors markedly reduced PPCK1 expression and the concomitant rise in PEPC-k activity. The calcium/calmodulin antagonist W7 blocked the light-dependent up-regulation of PEPC-k, pointing to a Ca2+-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) integrating both second messengers, calcium and PA, which were shown to increase the activity of sorghum CDPK

ECMO for COVID-19 patients in Europe and Israel

Since March 15th, 2020, 177 centres from Europe and Israel have joined the study, routinely reporting on the ECMO support they provide to COVID-19 patients. The mean annual number of cases treated with ECMO in the participating centres before the pandemic (2019) was 55. The number of COVID-19 patients has increased rapidly each week reaching 1531 treated patients as of September 14th. The greatest number of cases has been reported from France (n = 385), UK (n = 193), Germany (n = 176), Spain (n = 166), and Italy (n = 136) .The mean age of treated patients was 52.6 years (range 16–80), 79% were male. The ECMO configuration used was VV in 91% of cases, VA in 5% and other in 4%. The mean PaO2 before ECMO implantation was 65 mmHg. The mean duration of ECMO support thus far has been 18 days and the mean ICU length of stay of these patients was 33 days. As of the 14th September, overall 841 patients have been weaned from ECMO support, 601 died during ECMO support, 71 died after withdrawal of ECMO, 79 are still receiving ECMO support and for 10 patients status n.a. . Our preliminary data suggest that patients placed on ECMO with severe refractory respiratory or cardiac failure secondary to COVID-19 have a reasonable (55%) chance of survival. Further extensive data analysis is expected to provide invaluable information on the demographics, severity of illness, indications and different ECMO management strategies in these patients

Role of Electrophysiological Study and Catheter Ablation for Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia Complicating Myocarditis

Here we report the case of a 31-year-old man admitted to our hospital with echocardiografic and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance signs of myocarditis complicated by ventricular tachycardia, initially resolved with direct current shock. After the recurrence of ventricular tachycardia the patient was submitted to electrophysiological study revealing a re-entrant circuit at the level of the medium segment of interventricular septum, successfully treated with transcatheter ablation. This case highlights how the presence of recurrent ventricular arrhythmias at the onset of acute myocarditis, suspected or proven, could be associated with a pre-existing arrhythmogenic substrate, therefore these patients should be submitted to electrophysiological study in order to rule out the presence of arrhythmogenic focuses that can be treated with transcatheter ablation

Safety and Effectiveness of Combined Percutaneous Coronary Angioplasty and Aortic Valvuloplasty in An Elderly Patient with Cardiogenic Shock: Effect on Concomitant Severe Mitral Regurgitation

An 80-year-old diabetic man with severe aortic stenosis was admitted to our hospital for cardiogenic shock complicating non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Echocardiographic evaluation showed also a severe degree of both left ventricular dysfunction and mitral regurgitation. The patient was initially stabilized with inotropes and mechanical ventilation was necessary because of concurrent pulmonary edema. The day after, he was submitted to coronary angiography showing bivessel coronary disease. Given the high estimated operative risk, the patient was treated with angioplasty and bare metal stent implantation on both right coronary and circumflex artery; contemporarily, balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) was performed with anterograde technique, obtaining a significant increase in planimetric valve area and reduction in transvalvular peak gradient. Few days after the procedure echocardiogram showed an increase in left ventricular ejection fraction, moderate aortic stenosis with mild regurgitation and moderate mitral regurgitation. Hemodynamic and clinical stabilization were also obtained, allowing amine support discontinuation and weaning from mechanical ventilation. At three months follow-up, the patient reported a further clinical improvement from discharge, and echocardiographic evaluation showed moderate aortic stenosis and an additional increase in left ventricular function and decrease in mitral regurgitation degree. In conclusion, combined BAV and coronary angioplasty were associated in our patient with hemodynamic and clinical stabilization as well as with a significant reduction in transvalvular aortic gradient and mitral regurgitation and an increase in left ventricular ejection fraction both in-hospital and at three month follow-up; this case suggests that these procedures are feasible even in hemodynamically unstable patients and are associated with a significant improvement in quality of life