EOCENE, OLIGOCENE AND MIOCENE NATICID GASTROPODS OF NORTHERN ITALY

The present paper covers 77 species and six subspecies of naticid gastropods occurring in the Eocene, Oligocene and Miocene units of Northern Italy; all are described and commented on in the systematic account. Forty-two taxa are identified as formerly described ones; of these, 16 are associated with a generic name different from the previous one, and four are ranked at a different taxonomic level. Twenty-four taxa are proposed as new and the rest likely represent undescribed species, but more, better preserved material is required in order to establish their identity and to name them. Of the 83 taxa considered, 17 are assigned to the genus Cochlis Röding, 1798, one belongs in Cryptonatica Dall, 1892, another belongs in Tanea Marwick, 1931, 11 are members of the genus Tectonatica Sacco, 1890, three are included in Ampullonatica Sacco, 1890, one belongs in Eunaticina Fischer, 1885, 20 are assigned to Euspira Agassiz in J. Sowerby, 1837, three belong in Neverita Risso, 1826, five belong in Payraudeautia Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus,1883, two agree with the characters of Pliconacca Cossmann & Martin in Martin, 1914, four are members of Polinices Montfort, 1810, two belong in Sigatica Meyer & Aldrich, 1886, four belong in Sigaretotrerma Sacco, 1890, and nine have the characters of the genus Sinum Röding, 1798. All genera are discussed in terms of type species designation, distinctive characters and subfamilial affiliation (when different from the current one).  The character analysis has shown that the measurable elements of the protoconch along with its microsculpture (if any) are diagnostic in many species of all subfamilies. The features of the outer surface of the calcareous operculum proved to be diagnostic in the Pliocene and Recent naticine species. In the present case, the operculum of only four Cochlis species is known, readily differentiating them from one another. The umbilical characters, i.e. umbilicus width and presence/absence and strength of inner spiral structures, proved to be of variable utility in identifying species. The inner umbilical characters are never species-diagnostic in the case of the naticine taxa, particularly those of Cochlis. The inner structures, primarily presence/absence, number and strength of cordlets or threads on the umbilical bottom, are more effective in distinguishing poliniceine taxa. The umbilical callus can be used diagnostically for a limited number of naticine and poliniceine taxa. The exterior sculpture of the teleoconch (absent in the naticine and in most poliniceine taxa) is well developed in all the sinine species. In the case of Sigaretotrema and Sinum, the sculptural characters proved to be relevant in species recognition. The color pattern is diagnostic in most of the taxa in which this character is preserved. The shell morphology and the apertural characters are relevant only in a few cases. In the absence of diagnostic elements, a combination of all characters can help in recognizing species

A REVISION OF THE PLIOCENE NATICIDS OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ITALY. I. THE SUBFAMILY NATICINAE EXCEPT TECTONATICA

The present paper is the first in a series devoted to the revision of the Pliocene naticids of Northern and Central Italy. It recovers some previously disregarded but valid species and expands the number of naticine taxa (Tectonatica excluded) from four to twelve. Of these, one belongs to the genus Natica Scopoli, 1777, the others are assigned to the genus Cochlis Röding, 1798 which is reused herein for the first time after more than one century. The vast material examined (personal and museum collections) has allowed to analyze all shell and opercular characters, in terms of range of variation and significance in species recognition. The study demonstrates that the morphological characters of the teleoconch, such as the height of the spire, the suture, the umbilical features and the sculpture (subsutural axial wrinkles), are diagnostic only in some instances as it happens with the color. The operculum stands as the most significant diagnostic element in that is species-specific and, thence, sufficient to recognize each taxon. The protoconch is relevant as well to distinguish several, but not all species. The characters which are necessary and/or sufficient for the identification of the species considered in this study are summarized in the conclusive remarks. All the twelve taxa considered in this study are described and commented in the systematic account. One species, Cochlis sulcogradata, and one subspecies, Cochlis raropunctata obliquicallosa, are proposed as new.

A REVISION OF THE PLIOCENE NATICIDS OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ITALY. II. THE SUBFAMILY NATICINAE: ADDITIONS TO COCHLIS, TANEA AND TECTONATICA

The present paper is the second in a series devoted to the revision of the Pliocene naticids of Northern and Central Italy. It concludes the section covering the calcareous operculum-bearing Naticinae and expands to 18 the total number of species and subspecies of this subfamily recovered so far from the Pliocene deposits of Italy. Of the six taxa considered in this study, two (epigloafuniculata and fredianii) fully match the characters of the genus Cochlis Röding, 1798, one (koeneni) is assigned to the genus Tanea Marwick, 1931, the rest (astensis, prietoi and tectula) belong to the genus Tectonatica Sacco, 1890. All the six taxa considered in this paper are described and commented in the systematic account. One, Cochlis fredianii, is proposed as new. In the chapter treating the generic assignment of the studied taxa, the range of Tanea, hitherto used to allocate several Indo-Pacific species, is extended to the Mediterranean Basin as well, and the relations between Tectonatica and Cryptonatica Dall, 1892 are discussed. This study further demonstrates that the morphological characters of the teleoconch are of low significance in species recognition. In fact, should the characters be ranked, the operculum comes first and is the primary element, sufficient to distinguish each species. The protoconch and the color pattern are the second and third relevant attributes that can be used diagnostically for several taxa, but not always. The other shell features appear to be useful tools in separating species only occasionally. Some species lack distinctive shell characters and do require operculate specimens in order to be confidently

EUSPIRA MAGENESI, A NEW SPECIES OF THE NATICIDAE (GASTROPODA) FROM THE PLIOCENE OF ITALY

The new naticid species Euspira magenesi is described and figured. The type-material was recovered from Pliocene deposits exposed along the stream Rio Rosello (Emilia region, Piacenza province) and near Villalvernia (Piedmont, Alessandria province).The small-sized Euspira magenesi is featured by channeled suture, open, rather wide umbilicus and abapically produced aperture. It is an uncommon infralittoral element likely related to ecotones between paleobiocoenoses similar to the modern Mediterranean SFBC and DC.

A REVISION OF THE PLIOCENE NATICIDS OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ITALY.III. THE SUBFAMILIES POLINICEINAE AND SININAE

The present paper is the third in the series and concludes the revision of the Pliocene naticids of northern and central Italy. It expands to 31 the total number of species and subspecies of this family recovered so far from the Pliocene deposits of the investigated area. Of the thirteen taxa covered in this study, eight (bononiensis, exturbinoides, grossularia, guillemini, helicina helicina, magenesi, notabilis and pulchella) belong to the genus Euspira Agassiz in J. Sowerby, 1837, one (olla) belongs to the genus Neverita Risso, 1826, two others (fasciolata and intricata) are members of Payraudeautia Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1883, and the last two (perregulare and striatum) belong to the genus Sinum Röding, 1798. All thirteen taxa considered in this paper are described and commented on in the systematic account. Since species herein recorded under Euspira were often assigned to Polinices Montfort, 1810 by earlier workers, both genera are discussed and their characters are defined on the basis of their respective type species. A significant output is that the tropical genus Polinices, well represented in Late Oligocene and Miocene naticid assemblages of Europe, disappeared from that area and there are no reliable records of it subsequent to the Tortonian. Also the relations between Polinices and Neverita are discussed and their respective distinguishing characters are pointed out. This study demonstrates that the taxonomic relevance of a particular character may change greatly depending on the subfamily considered, and cannot be extended to Naticidae as a whole. Naticine species are confidently identifiable primarily by characters of their opercula. These latter can be combined with protoconch characters and color patterns, umbilical callus and umbilical characters in descending order of importance. Poliniceine and sinine species are readily and univocally distinguished by a combination of protoconch and umbilical characters, the larval shell being the most important element. In the case of Neverita, Payraudeautia and Sinum species, the teleoconch shape, the aperture and the umbilical callus also may have diagnostic value. The teleoconch shape appears to have been overrated by most workers

Naticid gastropods from the middle Miocene of western Ukraine

Pedriali, Luca, Sosso, Maurizio, Dell'Angelo, Bruno (2019): Naticid gastropods from the middle Miocene of western Ukraine. Zootaxa 4700 (2): 151-195, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4700.2.

PBMNCs Treatment in Critical Limb Ischemia and Candidate Biomarkers of Efficacy

When in critical limb ischemia (CLI) the healing process aborts or does not follow an orderly and timely sequence, a chronic vascular wound develops. The latter is major problem today, as their epidemiology is continuously increasing due to the aging population and a growth in the incidence of the underlying diseases. In the US, the mean annualized prevalence of necrotic wounds due to the fact of CLI is 1.33% (95% CI, 1.32–1.34%), and the cost of dressings alone has been estimated at USD 5 billion per year from healthcare budgets. A promising cell treatment in wound healing is the local injection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs). The treatment is aimed to induce angiogenesis as well to switch inflammatory macrophages, called the M1 phenotype, into anti-inflammatory macrophages, called M2, a phenotype devoted to tissue repair. This mechanism is called polarization and is a critical step for the healing of all human tissues. Regarding the clinical efficacy of PBMNCs, the level of evidence is still low, and a considerable effort is necessary for completing the translational process toward the patient bed site. From this point of view, it is crucial to identify some candidate biomarkers to detect the switching process from M1 to M2 in response to the cell treatment

The Impact of COVID-19 Quarantine on Patients With Dementia and Family Caregivers: A Nation-Wide Survey

Introduction: Previous studies showed that quarantine for pandemic diseases is associated with several psychological and medical effects. The consequences of quarantine for COVID-19 pandemic in patients with dementia are unknown. We investigated the clinical changes in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and evaluated caregivers’ distress during COVID-19 quarantine. Methods: The study involved 87 Italian Dementia Centers. Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), and Vascular Dementia (VD) were eligible for the study. Family caregivers of patients with dementia were interviewed by phone in April 2020, 45 days after quarantine declaration. Main outcomes were patients’ changes in cognitive, behavioral, and motor symptoms. Secondary outcomes were effects on caregivers’ psychological features. Results: 4913 patients (2934 females, 1979 males) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Caregivers reported a worsening in cognitive functions in 55.1% of patients, mainly in subjects with DLB and AD. Aggravation of behavioral symptoms was observed in 51.9% of patients. In logistic regression analysis, previous physical independence was associated with both cognitive and behavioral worsening (odds ratio 1.85 [95% CI 1.42–2.39], 1.84 [95% CI 1.43–2.38], respectively). On the contrary, pandemic awareness was a protective factor for the worsening of cognitive and behavioral symptoms (odds ratio 0.74 [95% CI 0.65–0.85]; and 0.72 [95% CI 0.63–0.82], respectively). Approximately 25.9% of patients showed the onset of new behavioral symptoms. A worsening in motor function was reported by 36.7% of patients. Finally, caregivers reported a high increase in anxiety, depression, and distress. Conclusion: Our study shows that quarantine for COVID-19 is associated with an acute worsening of clinical symptoms in patients with dementia as well as increase of caregivers’ burden. Our findings emphasize the importance to implement new strategies to mitigate the effects of quarantine in patients with dementia

The Impact of COVID-19 Quarantine on Patients With Dementia and Family Caregivers: A Nation-Wide Survey

Introduction: Previous studies showed that quarantine for pandemic diseases is associated with several psychological and medical effects. The consequences of quarantine for COVID-19 pandemic in patients with dementia are unknown. We investigated the clinical changes in patients with Alzheimer\u2019s disease and other dementias, and evaluated caregivers\u2019 distress during COVID-19 quarantine. Methods: The study involved 87 Italian Dementia Centers. Patients with Alzheimer\u2019s Disease (AD), Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), and Vascular Dementia (VD) were eligible for the study. Family caregivers of patients with dementia were interviewed by phone in April 2020, 45 days after quarantine declaration. Main outcomes were patients\u2019 changes in cognitive, behavioral, and motor symptoms. Secondary outcomes were effects on caregivers\u2019 psychological features. Results: 4913 patients (2934 females, 1979 males) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Caregivers reported a worsening in cognitive functions in 55.1% of patients, mainly in subjects with DLB and AD. Aggravation of behavioral symptoms was observed in 51.9% of patients. In logistic regression analysis, previous physical independence was associated with both cognitive and behavioral worsening (odds ratio 1.85 [95% CI 1.42\u20132.39], 1.84 [95% CI 1.43\u20132.38], respectively). On the contrary, pandemic awareness was a protective factor for the worsening of cognitive and behavioral symptoms (odds ratio 0.74 [95% CI 0.65\u20130.85]; and 0.72 [95% CI 0.63\u20130.82], respectively). Approximately 25.9% of patients showed the onset of new behavioral symptoms. A worsening in motor function was reported by 36.7% of patients. Finally, caregivers reported a high increase in anxiety, depression, and distress. Conclusion: Our study shows that quarantine for COVID-19 is associated with an acute worsening of clinical symptoms in patients with dementia as well as increase of caregivers\u2019 burden. Our findings emphasize the importance to implement new strategies to mitigate the effects of quarantine in patients with dementia