A Case of Isolated Left Ventricular Noncompaction with Basal ECG-Tracing Strongly Suggestive for Type-2 Brugada Syndrome

Isolated left ventricular noncompaction (ILVNC) is a cardiomyopathy caused by intrauterine arrest of compaction of the myocardial fibres and meshwork, an important process in myocardial development. ILVNC is clinically accompanied by depressed ventricular function, arrhythmias, and systemic embolization. We reported a case of ILVNC with basal ECG-tracing strongly suggestive for type-2 Brugada syndrome (BrS). Up to now, this is the first report investigating the association between ILVNC and this particular ECG pattern

Isolated Left Ventricular Noncompaction in a Case of Sotos Syndrome: A Casual or Causal Link?

A 16-year-old boy affected by Sotos syndrome was referred to our clinic for cardiac evaluation in order to play noncompetitive sport. Physical examination was negative for major cardiac abnormalities and rest electrocardiogram detected only minor repolarization anomalies. Transthoracic echocardiography showed left ventricular wall thickening and apical trabeculations with deep intertrabecular recesses, fulfilling criteria for isolated left ventricular noncompaction (ILVNC). Some sporadic forms of ILVNC are reported to be caused by a mutation on CSX gene, mapping on chromosome 5q35. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient affected simultaneously by Sotos syndrome and ILVNC

Color Doppler sonography of intrahepatic vascular shunts

Purpose. To illustrate the sonographic and Doppler features of the different types of intrahepatic vascular shunts. Methods. Patients presenting in our department with intrahepatic vascular shunts with healthy livers or with a variety of liver pathologies underwent color Doppler interrogation and spectral analysis. Results. Intrahepatic vascular shunts may involve all liver vessels. Arterioportal and arteriosystemic venous connections can be recognized in normal and cirrhotic livers, following trauma, within tumors, and within nontumoral arteriovenous malformations. Portosystemic intrahepatic venous shunts are categorized into 4 morphologic types. Systemic-to-systemic shunts are more often recognized in patients with chronic hepatic venous congestion or with Budd-Chiari syndrome. Portal-to-portal intrahepatic venous shunts are rare, with few cases described. Conclusion. In general, all the liver vessels can be associated with formation of arterioportal, arteriosystemic, and portosystemic venous shunts and, rarely, systemic venous shunts and portal-to-portal communications. Sonography allows characterization of the different intrahepatic shunts

<em>Plecotus alpinus</em>: primi dati sull'utilizzo dell'habitat

Negli ultimi anni il numero delle specie di Chirotteri note per l?Europa si è accresciuto, grazie all?uso di tecniche di genetica molecolare, ed in particolare il genere <em>Plecotus</em> è quello che ha registrato maggiori cambiamenti con la descrizione di tre nuove specie: <em>Plecotus kolombatovici</em>, <em>P. alpinus</em> e <em>P. sardus</em> (Kiefer & Veith, 2001; Mucedda <em>et al.</em>, 2002). Alla luce di queste nuove scoperte, la distribuzione geografica e le preferenze dell?habitat delle due specie ?storiche? di Orecchione in Europa, <em>Plecotus auritus</em> e <em>P. austriacus</em>, dovrebbero essere riviste: in questo contesto si inserisce l?indagine svolta nel Parco Regionale Campo dei Fiori (in provincia di Varese) sulla prima colonia riproduttiva di <em>Plecotus alpinus</em> segnalata per la regione Lombardia. Al fine di valutare le preferenze nell?uso dell?habitat e le direttrici di spostamento preferenziali di tale specie, nonché per l?identificazione di siti di rilevanza per l?allevamento della prole, si è fatto ricorso a tecniche di radiolocalizzazione, subordinate alla cattura a vivo degli animali. Le catture si sono svolte nel periodo 15 giugno ? 15 agosto del 2002 e del 2003. Per ogni individuo catturato, oltre alla determinazione di specie, sesso e classe d?età, sono stati rilevati i dati biometrici e prelevati campioni di tessuto destinati all?analisi genetica. Sono state inoltre registrate le emissioni ultrasonore. Durante il primo anno di indagine sono state seguite mediante radiolocalizzazione 5 femmine adulte (4 allattanti ed una non allattante) e due femmine subadulte, mentre durante il secondo anno sono state munite di radiocollare 6 femmine adulte (5 allattanti ed una non allattante) ed una femmina subadulta. Ai pipistrelli è stato applicato un emettitore radio (<em>tag</em> modello LB-2, Holohil Systems Ltd, Ontario, Canada). Il segnale emesso è stato ricevuto in campo mediante l?utilizzo di radio (Wildlife Materials, Inc.) connesse ad antenne <em>Yagi</em> a tre elementi. Ogni animale è stato seguito a partire dall?uscita dal <em>roost</em> fino al definitivo rientro all?alba del giorno successivo, per tutto il periodo in cui il <em>tag</em> risultava attivo (7-10 giorni) e ne è stata rilevata la posizione almeno ogni quindici minuti. I dati ottenuti sono stati integrati su Sistema Informativo Territoriale (GIS) ARC/INFO 8.2 al fine di poter procedere all?elaborazione dei dati di localizzazione per l?analisi dei domini vitali e la definizione dei corridoi di spostamento e delle principali aree di foraggiamento. Dai dati ottenuti è risultato che la maggior parte degli individui indagati utilizza più di un sito di foraggiamento intorno al <em>roost</em> e nelle zone limitrofe del <em>roost</em> stesso, oltre a prati ed a una zona umida, presenti nelle immediate vicinanze e sfruttati non soltanto come sito di foraggiamento ma anche come punto di abbeverata. I domini vitali e le <em>core area</em> risultano del tutto confrontabili in termini di grandezza per la maggior parte degli animali radiomarcati; tuttavia, alcuni individui hanno effettuato spostamenti dell?ordine di 5-6 chilometri dal sito di rifugio. Per definire le caratteristiche ambientali delle zone maggiormente frequentate, è stato utilizzato l?indice di Ivlev, considerando la classificazione delle tipologie di copertura del suolo secondo la cartografia CORINE, livello III

The Adamello-Brenta Natural Park bat community (Mammalia, Chiroptera): distribution and population status

<strong>Abstract</strong> Bats were censused in the Adamello-Brenta Natural Park (Trentino, central Italian Alps) in May-September 1999 and 2000, by mist-netting and roost surveys. In all, 90 sites (19 caves, 50 buildings and 21 foraging sites), over an area of about 618 km², were checked. The bat species distribution in both the Park and the surrounding areas was obtained by using field data, museum records and literature information. A total of 19 species was recorded: of these, one (<em>Myotis bechsteinii</em>) was known from a museum collection and 18 were recorded in the field (<em>Rhinolophus ferrumequinum</em>, <em>R. hipposideros</em>, <em>Myotis blythii</em>, <em>M. daubentonii</em>, <em>M. emarginatus</em>, <em>M. mystacinus</em>, <em>M. nattereri</em>, <em>Pipistrellus kuhlii</em>, <em>P. nathusii</em>, <em>P. pipistrellus</em>, <em>Nyctalus leisleri</em>, <em>Hypsugo savii</em>, <em>Eptesicus nilssonii</em>, <em>E. serotinus</em>, <em>Vespertilio murinus</em>, <em>Barbastella barbastellus</em>, <em>Plecotus alpinus</em>, <em>P. auritus</em>). Local distribution, habitat use and body size parameters of the species were studied, and selection of roosts and foraging sites by the bat community was analysed with logistic regression. The conservation status of the bat community is also discussed. We document the third record of breeding by <em>Pipistrellus nathusii</em> and the fourth <em>Eptesicus</em> (<em>Amblyotus</em>) <em>nilssonii</em> nursery in Italy, as well as the first roosting sites of the recently described <em>Plecotus alpinus</em>. <strong>Riassunto</strong> <strong>Comunità di Chirotteri e status delle popolazioni nel Parco Naturale Adamello-Brenta (Trentino-Alto Adige)</strong> Vengono presentati i risultati di una serie di monitoraggi, effettuati con tecniche differenti (principalmente catture con reti mist-net ed esplorazione dei siti di rifugio) dal 1999 al 2000. Tali indagini hanno permesso di raccogliere dati originali sulla distribuzione e sullo status della chirotterofauna, ai quali sono state affiancate ulteriori informazioni derivanti dalla letteratura recente e da studi di collezioni museali, al fine di definire un quadro di sintesi aggiornato ed esaustivo della distribuzione dei Chirotteri nel Parco Naturale Adamello-Brenta (Trentino-Alto Adige). Complessivamente sono stati esaminati distribuzione e status di 19 specie tra cui 18 (<em>Rhinolophus ferrumequinum</em>, <em>R. hipposideros</em>, <em>Myotis blythii</em>, <em>M. daubentonii</em>, <em>M. emarginatus</em>, <em>M. mystacinus</em>, <em>M. nattereri</em>, <em>Pipistrellus kuhlii</em>, <em>P. nathusii</em>, <em>P. pipistrellus</em>, <em>Nyctalus leisleri</em>, <em>Hypsugo savii</em>, <em>Eptesicus nilssonii</em>, <em>E. serotinus</em>, <em>Vespertilio murinus</em>, <em>Barbastella barbastellus</em>, <em>Plecotus alpinus</em>, <em>P. auritus</em>) rilevate direttamente mediante il monitoraggio di 90 siti (19 grotte, 50 edifici e 21 stazioni di cattura in campo aperto) rappresentativi di una superficie complessiva di circa 618 km², ed una, <em>Myotis bechsteinii</em>, rilevata da informazioni derivanti da collezioni museali. Vengono presentate informazioni concernenti il quadro distributivo locale, la selezione dell'habitat ed alcuni parametri biometrici per la comunità di chirotteri del Parco. Vengono inoltre esposte considerazioni su status e conservazione delle specie nell'area esaminata. In aggiunta, vengono riportate: la terza segnalazione per l'Italia di riproduzione di <em>Pipistrellus nathusii</em>, la quarta colonia riproduttiva nota per l'Italia di <em>Eptesicus</em> (<em>Amblyotus</em>) <em>nilssonii</em> e la prima segnalazione di colonie della nuova specie <em>Plecotus alpinus</em>

Climate, tree masting and spatial behaviour in wild boar (Sus scrofa L.): insight from a long-term study

Key message: Climate factors affect seed biomass production which in turn influences autumn wild boar spatial behaviour. Adaptive management strategies require an understanding of both masting and its influence on the behaviour of pulsed resource consumers like wild boar. Context: Pulsed resources ecosystem could be strongly affected by climate. Disantangling the role of climate on mast seeding allow to understand a seed consumer spatial behaviour to design proper wildlife and forest management strategies. Aims: We investigated the relationship between mast seeding and climatic variables and we evaluated the influence of mast seeding on wild boar home range dynamics. Methods: We analysed mast seeding as seed biomass production of three broadleaf tree species (Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus cerris L., Castanea sativa Mill.) in the northern Apennines. Next, we explored which climatic variables affected tree masting patterns and finally we tested the effect of both climate and seed biomass production on wild boar home range size. Results: Seed biomass production is partially regulated by climate; high precipitation in spring of the current year positively affects seed biomass production while summer precipitation of previous year has an opposite effect. Wild boar home range size is negatively correlated to seed biomass production, and the climate only partially contributes to determine wild boar spatial behaviour. Conclusion: Climate factors influence mast seeding, and the negative correlation between wild boar home range and mast seeding should be taken into account for designing integrated, proactive hunting management

Unraveling the Gut Microbiome–Diet Connection: Exploring the Impact of Digital Precision and Personalized Nutrition on Microbiota Composition and Host Physiology

The human gut microbiome, an intricate ecosystem housing trillions of microorganisms within the gastrointestinal tract, holds significant importance in human health and the development of diseases. Recent advances in technology have allowed for an in-depth exploration of the gut microbiome, shedding light on its composition and functions. Of particular interest is the role of diet in shaping the gut microbiome, influencing its diversity, population size, and metabolic functions. Precision nutrition, a personalized approach based on individual characteristics, has shown promise in directly impacting the composition of the gut microbiome. However, to fully understand the long-term effects of specific diets and food components on the gut microbiome and to identify the variations between individuals, longitudinal studies are crucial. Additionally, precise methods for collecting dietary data, alongside the application of machine learning techniques, hold immense potential in comprehending the gut microbiome’s response to diet and providing tailored lifestyle recommendations. In this study, we investigated the complex mechanisms that govern the diverse impacts of nutrients and specific foods on the equilibrium and functioning of the individual gut microbiome of seven volunteers (four females and three males) with an average age of 40.9 ± 10.3 years, aiming at identifying potential therapeutic targets, thus making valuable contributions to the field of personalized nutrition. These findings have the potential to revolutionize the development of highly effective strategies that are tailored to individual requirements for the management and treatment of various diseases

Vitamin D Supplementation and Cancer Mortality: Narrative Review of Observational Studies and Clinical Trials

Several studies have investigated the beneficial effects of vitamin D on survival of cancer patients. Overall evidence has been accumulating with contrasting results. This paper aims at narratively reviewing the existing articles examining the link between vitamin D supplementation and cancer mortality. We performed two distinct searches to identify observational (ObS) studies and randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of vitamin D supplementation (VDS) in cancer patients and cohorts of general population, which included cancer mortality as an outcome. Published reports were gathered until March 2021. We identified 25 papers published between 2003 and 2020, including n. 8 RCTs on cancer patients, n. 8 population RCTs and n. 9 ObS studies. There was some evidence that the use of VDS in cancer patients could improve cancer survival, but no significant effect was found in population RCTs. Some ObS studies reported evidence that VDS was associated with a longer survival among cancer patients, and only one study found an opposite effect. The findings do not allow conclusive answers. VDS may have the potential as treatment to improve survival in cancer patients, but further investigations are warranted. We strongly support investment in well-designed and sufficiently powered RCTs to fully evaluate this association

Vitamin D and SARS-CoV2 infection, severity and mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis

To assess the evidence on SARS-CoV2 infection and Covid-19 in relation to deficiency and supplementation of vitamin D, we conducted a systematic review up to April 2021. We summarised data from 38 eligible studies, which presented risk estimates for at least one endpoint, including two RCT and 27 cohort-studies: 205565 patients with information on 25OHD status and 2022 taking vitamin D supplementation with a total of 1197 admitted to the ICU or who needed invasive mechanical ventilation or intubation and hospital stay, and more than 910 Covid-19 deaths. Primary outcomes were severity and mortality and the main aim was to evaluate the association with vitamin D supplementation. Random effects models showed that supplementation was associated with a significant lower risk of both Covid-19 severe disease (SRR 0.38, 95% CI 0.20-0.72, 6 studies) and mortality (SRR 0.35, 95% CI 0.17-0.70, 8 studies). There were no statistically significant dose differences between studies: summary estimates with regular doses remain statistically significant, suggesting that higher doses are not necessary. For patients on vitamin D supplementation, a greater reduction in mortality risk emerged in older individuals and at higher latitudes. Regarding the quality of studies, assessed using the New Castle-Ottawa quality scale, the analysis revealed in most cases no statistically significant differences between low, medium or high quality studies. We found significant associations of vitamin D supplementation with Covid-19, encompassing risks of disease worsening and mortality, especially in seasons characterized by 25OHD deficiency and with not severe patients. Dedicated randomized clinical studies are encouraged to confirm these results