Population dynamics and conservation biology of over-exploited Mediterranean red coral.

Abstract The main goal of ecologists is nowadays to foster habitat and species conservation. Life-history tables and Leslie-Lewis transition matrices of population growth can be powerful tools suitable for the study of age-structured over harvested and/or endangered species dynamics. Red coral (Corallium rubrum L 1758) is a modular anthozoan endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. This slow growing, long lived species has been harvested since ancient times. In the last decades harvesting pressure increased and the overall Mediterranean yield reduced by 2 3 . Moreover, mass mortality (putatively-linked to global warming) recently affected some coastal populations of this species. Red coral populations are discrete genetic units, gonochoric, composed by several overlapping generations and provided of a discrete (annual) reproduction. A population of this precious octocoral was studied in detail and its static life table was compiled. In order to simulate the trends overtime of the population under different environmental conditions and fishing pressures, a discrete, non-linear model, based on Leslie-Lewis transition matrix, was applied to the demographic data. In this model a bell-shaped curve, based on experimental data, representing the dependence of recruitment on adult colonies density was included. On these bases the stability of the population under different density, reproduction and mortality figures was analysed and simulations of the population trends overtime were set out. Some simulations were also carried out applying to the studied population the mortality values measured during the anomalous mass mortality event which really affected some red coral populations in 1999. The population under study showed high stability and a strong resilience capability, surviving to a 61% reduction of density, to a 27.7% reduction of reproduction rate and to an unselective harvesting affecting 95% of the reproductive colonies.

Plant Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology: Following Mariotti's Steps

This review is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Domenico Mariotti, who significantly contributed to establishing the Italian research community in Agricultural Genetics and carried out the first experiments of Agrobacterium-mediated plant genetic transformation and regeneration in Italy during the 1980s. Following his scientific interests as guiding principles, this review summarizes the recent advances obtained in plant biotechnology and fundamental research aiming to: (i) Exploit in vitro plant cell and tissue cultures to induce genetic variability and to produce useful metabolites; (ii) gain new insights into the biochemical function of Agrobacterium rhizogenes rol genes and their application to metabolite production, fruit tree transformation, and reverse genetics; (iii) improve genetic transformation in legume species, most of them recalcitrant to regeneration; (iv) untangle the potential of KNOTTED1-like homeobox (KNOX) transcription factors in plant morphogenesis as key regulators of hormonal homeostasis; and (v) elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the transition from juvenility to the adult phase in Prunus tree species

TEVAR for Iatrogenic Injury of the Distal Aortic Arch after Pacemaker Implantation

Introduction We report the endovascular treatment of aortic arch injury due to direct puncture during pacemaker implantation. Report After pacemaker implantation a 74-year-old woman showed a progressive decrease in haematocrit with elevation of cardiac troponin-I. Coronary angiography revealed the malposition of the catheters introduced through the aortic wall. The atrial lead was placed in the left circumflex coronary artery. Computed tomography scan confirmed distal aortic arch perforation. A Medtronic-Valiant stent–graft was implanted in the distal aortic arch while the two catheters were removed. A new VVI pacemaker was implanted and, 3 days later, the patient underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the dissected left circumflex artery. Four days later the patient was discharged. One-year computed tomography scan showed successful repair of the injured aorta. Discussion Endovascular stent grafting has emerged as a less invasive therapeutic alternative to treat traumatic or iatrogenic injuries of the distal aortic arch

Caring for cancer survivors: perspectives of oncologists, general practitioners and patients in Italy.

Aim: The present survey investigates the views of medical oncologists, general practitioners (GPs) and patients about the various surveillance strategies. Methods: An online survey was conducted in Italy on a population of 329 medical oncologists, 380 GPs and 350 patients. Results: Most of GPs (n = 291; 76%) claim that follow-up should be provided by the collaboration between GPs and medical oncologists. Most medical oncologists report to have a poor relationship with GPs (n = 151; 46%) or no relationships at all (n = 14; 4%). Most patients believe there is no real collaboration between medical oncologists and GPs (n = 138; 54%). Conclusion: GPs, medical oncologists and patients share the idea that the collaboration between oncologists and GPs for surveillance of cancer survivors is poor and should be improved

Insights into the Sesquiterpenoid Pathway by Metabolic Profiling and De novo Transcriptome Assembly of Stem-Chicory (Cichorium intybus Cultigroup "Catalogna")

Stem-chicory of the "Catalogna" group is a vegetable consumed for bitter-flavored stems. Type and levels of bitter sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) participate in conferring bitterness in vegetables. The content of lactucin-and lactucopocrin-like STLs was higher in "Molfettese" than "Galatina" landrace stalks, regardless of the cultivation sites, consistently with bitterness scores and gustative differences. The "Galatina" transcriptome assembly resulted in 58,872 unigenes, 77% of which were annotated, paving the way to molecular investigation of the STL pathway. Comparative transcriptome analysis allowed the identification of 69,352 SNPs and of 1640 differentially expressed genes that maintained the pattern independently of the site. Enrichment analyses revealed that 4 out of 29 unigenes were up-regulated in "Molfettese" vs "Galatina" within the sesquiterpenoid pathway. The expression of two germacrene A -synthase (GAS) and one -oxidase (GAO) genes of the costunolide branch correlated positively with the contents of lactucin-like molecules, supporting that STL biosynthesis regulation occurs at the transcriptional level. Finally, 46 genes encoding transcription factors (TFs) maintained a differential expression pattern between the two varieties regardless of the growth site; correlation analyses among TFs, GAS, GAO gene expressions and STLs contents suggest that one MYB and one bHLH may act in the pathway

MR imaging in patients with male-to-female sex reassignment surgery: Postoperative anatomy and complications

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of MRI in the evaluation of both the new female anatomy and complications in male-to-female sex reassignment surgery (MtF-SRS). METHODS: 71 consecutive patients with MtF-SRS had 74 MRI [age range, 21-63 years; mean (\ub1standard deviation) age, 36\u2009\ub1\u200910 years; median age, 37 years]. In 47 patients, MRI was performed to rule out early post-operative complications after gender conversion (n\u2009=\u200940), vaginoplasty (n\u2009=\u20096) or remodelling of the labia majora (n\u2009=\u20091). In 27 patients, MRI was performed 1-20 years after MtF-SRS for late post-operative complications, pain or dysuria, inflammatory changes or poor cosmetic outcome. Three patients had MRI both before and after the operation. RESULTS: MRI allowed investigation of the new female anatomy in all cases. Soon after MtF-SRS, a small amount of blood was identified in all patients around the neoclitoris, urethral plaque and labia. Post-operative complications were clinically significant fluid collections (n\u2009=\u20095), labial abscesses (n\u2009=\u20092), severe cellulitis (n\u2009=\u20093), partial neovaginal prolapse (n\u2009=\u20093), focal necrosis and dehiscence of the vaginal wall (n\u2009=\u20092) and hypovascularization of the neoclitoris (n\u2009=\u20091). After ileal vaginoplasty, three patients developed clinically insignificant haematomas, one a large rectovaginal fistula with dehiscence of the intestinal anastomosis and bowel perforation (n\u2009=\u20091). In the 27 patients investigated 1-20 years after MfF-SRS, MRI demonstrated cavernosal remnants (n\u2009=\u200910), spared testis (n\u2009=\u20091) neovaginal strictures (n\u2009=\u20098), fistulas and abscesses (n\u2009=\u20093) and prolapse (n\u2009=\u20092). Three of these patients also had fibrotic changes. In the remaining three patients, no pathological features were identified. CONCLUSION: After genital reconfiguration, MRI allows assessment of the post-operative anatomy and of post-operative complications. Advances in knowledge: Imaging features of the new anatomy and of surgical complications after SRS are discussed and illustrated

Prospective validation of the CLIP score: a new prognostic system for patient with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma

Prognosis of patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) depends on both residual liver function and tumor extension. The CLIP score includes Child-Pugh stage, tumor morphology and extension, serum alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, and portal vein thrombosis. We externally validated the CLIP score and compared its discriminatory ability and predictive power with that of the Okuda staging system in 196 patients with cirrhosis and HCC prospectively enrolled in a randomized trial. No significant associations were found between the CLIP score and the age, sex, and pattern of viral infection. There was a strong correlation between the CLIP score and the Okuda stage, As of June 1999, 150 patients (76.5%) had died. Median survival time was 11 months, overall, and it was 36, 22, 9, 7, and 3 months for CLIP categories 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 to 6, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the CLIP score had additional explanatory power above that of the Okuda stage. This was true for both patients treated with locoregional therapy or not. A quantitative estimation of 2-year survival predictive power showed that the CLIP score explained 37% of survival variability, compared with 21% explained by Okuda stage. In conclusion, the CLIP score, compared with the Okuda staging system, gives more accurate prognostic information, is statistically more efficient, and has a greater survival predictive power. It could be useful in treatment planning by improving baseline prognostic evaluation of patients with RCC, and could be used in prospective therapeutic trials as a stratification variable, reducing the variability of results owing to patient selection