10 research outputs found
Grotta Lu Bissu (PU 141), hot spot della biospeleologia italiana
ItSi riassumono le principali conoscenze biospeleologiche sulla grotta Lu Bissu (= L’abisso) (Pu 141), nel territorio di Castro (Lecce). Nonostante le non eccezionali dimensioni, la grotta rappresenta, dal punto di vista biologico, una delle più importanti cavità del territorio regionale, dato che al suo interno sono state rinvenute ben 15 specie troglobie (10 acquatiche e 5 terrestri), che rappresentano il 35% dell’intero popolamento ipogeo pugliese. Dopo una descrizione dei principali caratteri geologici e morfologici della cavità , si elencano le specie ritrovate nella grotta, evidenziando la necessità di una maggiore protezione della stessa, al fine della salvaguardia del notevole patrimonio biospeleologico della cavità .EnThe present paper deals with the main biospeleological outcomes from the cave Lu Bissu (= The abyss) (number 141 in the Regional Inventory of Caves), located in the territory of Castro (Lecce province). Notwithstanding its quite limited size and depth, the cave is one of the most remarkable example in Apulia as regards biospeleology: in fact, Lu Bissu hosts 15 troglobian species (10 aquatic and 5 terrestrian). They represent 35 % of the whole hypogean fauna in Apulia, which means that one third of the Apulian species are present in this small cave. After a description of the main geological and morphological characters of the cavity, the 15 species are listed and briefly described. Eventually, some considerations on the necessity to protect the cave are presented, aimed at safeguarding the important biological heritage hosted in the cave
Distribuzione e abbondanza della stigofauna nell\'habitat ipogeo di natura fratturato,nella zona di Nardò (Puglia)
ItLa falda sotterranea nei pressi di Nardò (LE)è stata costantemente monitorata dal CNR-IRSA di Bari a partire dal 1997 e,dal 2001 sono state effettuate le ricerche dei parametri microbiologici di contaminazione fecale.Il Laboratorio Ipogeo Salentino di Biospeleologia “Sandro Ruffo ”ha campionato la fauna sotterranea nelle stesse aree esaminando tre categorie ecologiche:stigosseni,stigo fili e stigobionti. Gli autori hanno voluto veri ficare la sensibilitĂ della stigofauna alle variazioni delle qualitĂ ambientali dell’habitat ipogeo quali cambi di temperatura dell’acqua,di salinitĂ ,pH o composizione chimica,tenuto conto che questi organismi partecipano attivamente ai processi degradativi.Dalla ricerca emerge che il misidaceo Spelaeomysis bottazzii non può essere utilizzato come indicatore biologico in quanto è stato ritrovato sia in siti contaminati che in zone non contaminate.EnThe ground water quality at the Nardò (LE)site has been continuously monitored by CNR-IRSA since 1997,and after 2001 also by considering pathogenic indicators due to fecal ground water pollution.In the same area,the Laboratorio Ipogeo Salentino di Biospeleologia “Sandro Ruffo ” sampled the underground fauna and three ecological categories were examined:stygoxenes,stygophiles and stygobi- onts.The authors aimed to check the stygofauna sensitivity to hypogeous habitat changes due to environmental stresses such as water temperature,water salinity, pH or chemical constituents,though they are active organisms which contribute to the biodegradation.Here the possible relationship between sampled aquatic organ- isms and ground water pollution has been focused.The results showed that Spe- laeomysis bottazzii cannot be useful as biological indicator,because the species lives in both contaminated and non-contaminated ground waters
Fauna ipogea pugliese: nuovi dati e osservazioni
ItDurante l’ultima campagna di ricerche condotta dalla Sezione di Biospeleologia del Gruppo Speleologico Martinese ONLUS dal 1999 al 2000, sono stati raccolti, in pozzi e grotte pugliesi, numerosi animali ipogei, in parte già conosciuti, in parte in fase di determinazione. Le ricerche hanno portato ad un notevole ampliamento delle distribuzioni di alcuni endemiti pugliesi stigobionti (Typhlocaris salentina Caroli, 1923, Spelaeomysis bottazzii Caroli, 1924, Murgeoniscus anellii Arcangeli, 1938) e messo in discussione ipotesi idrogeologiche ormai consolidate sulla colonizzazione del dominio ipogeo regionale. Sono state fatte osservazioni sul comportamento di alcune specie in esame (Monodella stygicola Ruffo, 1949, Typhlocaris salentina Caroli, 1923).EnDuring the last research campaign conducted by the biospelaeology section of GSM ONLUS, various hypogean animals have been collected in Apulia, inside both wells and caves from 1990 to 2000. Some of these patterns were already known, while others are going to be determined in the present phase. The researches caused a relevant distribution extent of some species of endemic apulian stygobiontes (Typhlocaris salentina Caroli, 1923, Spelaeomysis bottazzii Caroli, 1924, Murgeoniscus anellii Arcangeli, 1938); they have also put into discussion some consolidated hydrogeological hypotheses about the hypogeanregional dominion colonization. Moreovere, the behaviour of some examined species has been observed (Monodella stygicola Ruffo, 1949, Typhlocaris salentina Caroli, 1923)
Evoluzione del degrado nella grotta "Grava delle Rose" in Valle d\'Itria
ItViene presentato lo studio di una grotta, la Grava delle Rose, scoperta in Valle d’Itria (agro di Cisternino - BR), grazie ad una mappa del territorio del 1556. Poichè la grotta è stata usata a lungo come discarica, sono state condotte analisi approfondite dell’aria, del terreno e degli animali presenti al suo interno. Nonostante le analisi sui campioni di terreno evidenzino la presenza di inquinanti tipo cobalto, si osserva l’esistenza di una ricca fauna ipogea specializzata.EnOur study, such as it is presented in the pamphlet, regards a cave, the so-called "Grava delle Rose", discovered in the Itria Valley (Cisternino plain - BR), thanks to a territory map tracing back to 1556. Since the cave had been utilized as a garbage heap for a long time, recently accurate tests have been carried out in order to analyze the air, the ground and the animals that can be found inside it. Although the analyzed soil samples show the existence of some polluting agents of the cobalt kind, a cospicuous presence of specialized hypogean fauna may be observed there
Nuovi ritrovamenti di Troglopedetes Ruffoi Delamare Deboutteville (Collembola, Paronellidae)
EnNew findings of Troglopedetes ruffoi Delamare-Deboutteville 1951 from the Castellana cave (Apulia) allowed us to describe some characters not previously considered. The presence of large sensory areas on the antennomeres and some characters of the chaetotaxy were studied. Some biogeographical features of Troglopedetes ru f f o i and the other congeneric species were discussed in the light of the recent revisions of the genus
The clinico-metabolic correlates of language impairment in corticobasal syndrome and progressive supranuclear palsy
Purpose: To assess the clinical-metabolic correlates of language impairment in a large sample of patients clinically diagnosed as corticobasal syndrome (CBS) and progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome (PSPs)
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Schizophrenia, cannabis use and Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT): Modeling the interplay on cognition
Cognitive impairments are considered core features of schizophrenia and are recognized as the most important predictors of functional outcome and quality of life. A better study of the mechanisms underlying the cognition is of extreme relevance. Literature has shown that several genetic and environmental factors affect cognitive performance. In particular, the interaction between Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) gene and cannabis use has gained increasing attention in the past years. Based on these premises, the present study, aimed to analyze the interplay between cannabis use and COMT polymorphism on cognitive performance in a sample of 135 patients with chronic schizophrenia. Patients were assessed for neurocognitive measures with a broad battery, genotyped for COMT Val158Met polymorphism from peripheral blood sample, and evaluated with a semi-structured interview in order to establish the history of cannabis abuse. Results showed a significant interaction effect between COMT polymorphism and cannabis use on verbal fluency and speed of processing. The analysis revealed significant differences between subjects COMT Val/Val homozygous and Met carriers with history of cannabis use, with a better performance on both tasks among the Met carriers group. These data are in line with literature on healthy subjects that suggests a more detrimental effect of cannabis among subjects with Val/Val genotype. In conclusions, results highlight the need to better disentangle the biological pathways in which cannabis use and COMT are converging, as possible treatment targets, as well as the importance to assess these factors in clinical to optimize individualized interventions.
•Cognition is a core feature of schizophrenia and is recognized as the most important predictor of functional outcome.•The interplay between cannabis use and COMT Val158Met polymorphism on cognition in schizophrenia.•A significant interaction effect between COMT polymorphism and cannabis use on verbal fluency and speed of processing
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Disentangling Cognitive Heterogeneity in Psychotic Spectrum Disorders
•For each cognitive task, roughly 40% of patients displayed poor performance.•Cluster analysis showed 3 cognitive profiles with different degrees of impairment.•Verbal IQ and diagnosis were identified as predictors of cluster membership.•Explaining cognitive heterogeneity is needed to develop better-suited interventions.
Neuropsychological impairments represent a central feature of psychosis-spectrum disorders. It is characterized by a great both within- and between-subjects variability (i.e. cognitive heterogeneity), which needs to be better disentangled. The present study aimed to describe the distribution of performance on the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) by using the Equivalent Scores, in order to balance statistical methodological problems. To do so, cognitive performance groups were branded, identifying the main factors contributing to cognitive heterogeneity. A sample of 583 patients with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia or Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified was enrolled and assessed for neurocognition and intellectual level. K-means cluster analysis was performed based on BACS Equivalent Scores. Differences among clusters were analyzed throughout Analysis of Variance and Discriminant Function Analysis in order to identify the most significant predictors of cluster membership. For each cognitive task, roughly 40% of patients displayed poor performance, while up to 63% displayed a symbol-coding deficit. K-means cluster analysis depicted three profiles characterized by “near-normal” cognition, widespread impairment, and “borderline” profile. Discriminant analysis selected Verbal IQ and diagnosis as predictors of cluster membership. Our findings support the usefulness of Equivalent Scores and cluster analysis to explain cognitive heterogeneity, and tailor better interventions
Cognitive Remediation for Inpatients With Schizophrenia
Computer-assisted cognitive remediation (CACR) is a computer-based rehabilitation treatment aimed at improving cognition and at developing strategies that can be applied to various functional areas. Different protocols are currently used with great variability over the intensity and duration of treatments. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a brief and intensive CACR training (i.e., 15 sessions for 3 weeks) on cognitive domains, as well as the durability of cognitive gains and their generalization to functional areas, 3 months after CACR training. Thirty-eight patients with schizophrenia were recruited and assessed for psychopathology, cognitive performance, and functioning before the rehabilitative intervention. Patients were reassessed for cognition after CACR rehabilitation. Moreover, a subsample of 13 patients was evaluated for cognition and functioning 3 months after CACR completion. Results show significant improvements in multiple cognitive domains after CACR. Furthermore, 3 months after CACR completion, significant improvements were also detected in executive functions and daily functioning. This study suggests that a brief and intense CACR training is effective on cognitive and functional domains and that it could be feasible and affordable for health care services, thus offering patients the best options for fulfilling recovery goals
ANIACARES: Presentation of a case study on a model of Early Psychological Intervention for Road Accidents Victims
Road crashes are a major social emergency in Europe. In addition to the enormous social costs, they often result in severe psychological distress both for the individuals directly involved and their loved ones. In Italy, no specific psychological first aid and rehabilitation program exists for road crashes victims. For this purpo- se, ANIACARES, a scientifically grounded first-aid program specifically designed for road accident victims, was developed. The case study below is reported to better describe the activities and the psychological techniques used by the ANIACARES psychologists. The patient was an 18-year-old young adult admitted to the intensive care unit of one of the General Hospitals in Rome following a road crash. The first part of the intervention took place in the hospital ward and it continued at patient’s home