Underwater archaeological surveys in Salento waters: results and methods

This paper is related to the survey carried out in several coastal sites of Puglia in 2020, within the project UnderwaterMuse. The core of the activities took place at the Torre S. Sabina site, on the Adriatic Sea, where an integrated topographic and photogrammetric survey has been conducted on the late-imperial Roman shipwreck. Another activity, always on the Adriatic Sea, are been conducted in the “Le Cesine” Natural Reserve how led to the identification of a big pier from the Augustan period. On the Ionian Sea, furthermore, in Porto Cesareo Marine Protected Area, new evidence has been added to the numerous ones already known, such as some spectacular formations composed uniquely by cemented sherds of Tripolitanian amphorae (2nd cent. AD). This evidence seems to be significant markers of sea-level changes and the evolution of the seascape

Before the stream: the social and economic role of exotica in the central Mediterranean. The case of ivory items from Roca.

In this paper we have tried to highlight some of the probable social implications of the consumption and local working of exotica, using as a case study the assemblage of ivory items from the site of Roca in Adriatic Southern Italy. The definition here proposed for exotica as exogenous goods of small size and strong evocative power, has been used in order to explain patterns of use and deposition of ivories through the second part of the second millennium BC in the Central Mediterranean. As a result, it has been possible to ascertain that exotica normally predate the beginning of the circulation of bulky goods and they are a credible indicator of the possibility of the inception of more capital intensive forms of exchanges. These other forms may or may not start depending on various conditions (above all social and technological). Whenever they do occur, however, the start of local production of exotica is a common by-product, although control of maritime routes from certain sites may prevent this from happening. As has been seen at Roca, local production of exotica constitutes the culmination of a process of gradual osmosis where these new productive activities present strong linkages with others already existing in the settlement, as in the case of SAS X, where ivories were worked in the same areas as other animal-derived hard materials. Pottery production also represents another facet of this process, although, as a result of the abundance of this class of evidence, much work still needs to be done on this side. There are some hints suggesting that this process of osmosis may have influenced Roca’s social life, not only with respect of production but also of redistribution. This is the case of the large building erected in the SAS IX area, as well as of the specialized storage areas recognized in various areas of the settlement (Pagliara et al. 2007, 2008, Guglielmino 1999). These denote an ability to mobilize resources which probably goes beyond the possibilities of standard small-scale communities of Bronze Age Italy. An in-depth assessment of the mutual interplay between these aspects will require a systematic analysis of the evidence from key areas of the settlement, a work which is now ongoing

Underwater archaeological surveys in Salento waters: results and methods

none8This paper is related to the survey carried out in several coastal sites of Puglia in 2020, within the project UnderwaterMuse. The core of the activities took place at the Torre S. Sabina site, on the Adriatic Sea, where an integrated topographic and photogrammetric survey has been conducted on the Late-Imperial Roman shipwreck. Another activity, always on the Adriatic Sea, carried out in the “Le Cesine” Natural Reserve, led to the identification of a harbour complex hypotetically attributed to the Augustan or Early Imperial Age. On the Ionian Sea, furthermore, in Porto Cesareo Marine Protected Area, new evidence has been added to the numerous ones already known, such as some spectacular formations composed uniquely by cemented sherds of Tripolitanian amphorae (2nd cent. AD). This evidence seems to be significant markers of sea-level changes and the evolution of the seascape.openR. Auriemma, A. Calantropio, F. Chiabrando, L. Coluccia, M. Rugge, P. D’Ambrosio, M. Buccolieri, A. PiccioloAuriemma, R.; Calantropio, A.; Chiabrando, F.; Coluccia, L.; Rugge, M.; D’Ambrosio, P.; Buccolieri, M.; Picciolo, A

Antibiotic-induced microbiota dysbiosis impairs neuromuscular function in juvenile mice

Background and Purpose: Gut microbiota is essential for the development of the gastrointestinal system, including the enteric nervous system (ENS). Perturbations of gut microbiota in early life have the potential to alter neurodevelopment leading to functional bowel disorders later in life. We examined the hypothesis that gut dysbiosis impairs the structural and functional integrity of the ENS, leading to gut dysmotility in juvenile mice. Experimental Approach: To induce gut dysbiosis, broad-spectrum antibiotics were administered by gavage to juvenile (3weeks old) male C57Bl/6 mice for 14 days. Bile acid composition in the intestinal lumen was analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Changes in intestinal motility were evaluated by stool frequency, transit of a fluorescent-labelled marker and isometric muscle responses of ileal full-thickness preparations to receptor and non-receptor-mediated stimuli. Alterations in ENS integrity were assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Key Results: Antibiotic treatment altered gastrointestinal transit, luminal bile acid metabolism and bowel architecture. Gut dysbiosis resulted in distorted glial network, loss of myenteric plexus neurons, altered cholinergic, tachykininergic and nitrergic neurotransmission associated with reduced number of nNOS neurons and different ileal distribution of the toll-like receptor TLR2. Functional defects were partly reversed by activation of TLR2 signalling. Conclusions and Implications: Gut dysbiosis caused complex morpho-functional neuromuscular rearrangements, characterized by structural defects of the ENS and increased tachykininergic neurotransmission. Altogether, our findings support the beneficial role of enteric microbiota for ENS homeostasis instrumental in ensuring proper gut neuromuscular function during critical stages of development

Impact of Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment Modalities by Age in a Population-Based Setting

Purpose:Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) has a worse prognosis in adults than in children, but there is evidence of a better outcome in the former if treated using a pediatric-like approach. This study describes treatment for RMS in patients more than 10 years old and examines to what extent treatment contributes to explain the different age-related survival observed and to what extent treatment centers impact treatment appropriateness. Methods:A retrospective population-based study was developed considering 104 RMS cases (excluding the pleomorphic subtype) diagnosed in Italy between 2000 and 2015. Patients were grouped by age (10-19 vs. 20-60 years old) and scored according to whether or not their chemotherapy was consistent with the schemes used in pediatric protocols (score 1 = chemotherapy in line with pediatric protocols). Treatment centers were grouped according to whether or not they have a pediatric-dedicated unit affiliated to the national pediatric oncology network (Associazione Italiana Ematologia Oncologia Pediatrica [AIEOP]). Results:Older patients were more likely to have tumors at unfavorable sites (p = 0.045). A treatment score of 1 was assigned to 85% of younger patients, but only to 32% of older patients (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the proportion of score 1 was higher in younger patients treated in centers with an AIEOP Unit. A multivariate model confirmed age as a significant prognostic factor (Hazard rate ratio [HR] = 2.06;p = 0.04) and showed a significant impact of treatment on survival (HR = 2.13;p = 0.03). Conclusions:Adult RMS patients are still relatively unlikely to be treated with pediatric protocols and in centers with a pediatric oncology expertise. This may explain the survival gap between older and younger patients

More Favorable Short and Long-Term Outcomes for Screen-Detected Colorectal Cancer Patients

Background: Screening significantly reduces mortality from colorectal cancer (CRC). Screen detected (SD) tumors associate with better prognosis, even at later stage, compared to non-screen detected (NSD) tumors. We aimed to evaluate the association between diagnostic modality (SD vs. NSD) and short- and long-term outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for CRC. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study involved patients aged 50–69 years, residing in Veneto, Italy, who underwent curative-intent surgery for CRC between 2006 and 2018. The clinical multi-institutional dataset was linked with the screening dataset in order to define diagnostic modality (SD vs. NSD). Short- and long-term outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: Of 1,360 patients included, 464 were SD (34.1%) and 896 NSD (65.9%). Patients with a SD CRC were more likely to have less comorbidities (p = 0.013), lower ASA score (p = 0.001), tumors located in the proximal colon (p = 0.0018) and earlier stage at diagnosis (p &lt; 0.0001). NSD patients were found to have more aggressive disease at diagnosis, higher complication rate and higher readmission rate due to surgical complications (all p &lt; 0.05). NSD patients had a significantly lower Disease Free Survival and Overall Survival (all p &lt; 0.0001), even after adjusting by demographic, clinic-pathological, tumor, and treatment characteristics. Conclusions: SD tumors were associated with better long-term outcomes, even after multiple adjustments. Our results confirm the advantages for the target population to participate in the screening programs and comply with their therapeutic pathways