Metapopulation structure of a benthic harpacticoid copepod and environmental factors

Tigriopus fulvus (Fischer, 1860) is a benthic harpacticoid copepod of the supralittoral environment, the study subject population is currently resident in Genova Nervi rockpools (Ligurian Sea, 44\ub022'52.561 N; 9\ub02'12.570 E). Main environmental rockpools parameters were studied from March To September 2014. Salinity, temperature, pH, density, copepod abundance and rockpools trophism (Seston and Chlorophyll "a") were assessed, these parameters were chosen as more relevant for copepod population development. Populations trends and occasional extinction events suggest, together with appropriate statistic treatment, a metapopulation structure for T.fulvus, even though a genetic evidence is required

Epibiotic ciliates Scyphidia sp. and diatoms on Tigriopus fulvus (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) exoskeleton

Several microorganisms – epibionts – can adhere to living supports taking advantage for their survival, feeding and movement. Epibiosis occurs particularly in aquatic environments, on both benthic and planktonic organisms, among which copepods and cladocerans represent an important living support. The harpacticoid copepod Tigriopus fulvus, living in the splashpools of rocky coasts, was studied to recognize the occurrence of epibionts on the exoskeleton surface using scanning electon microscopy techniques. The first evidence of ciliate Scyphidia sp. on Tigriopus fulvus has been described and the occurrence of algae Cocconeis sp. has been observed as well. Epibionts were found to adhere to antennae, a site linked to the exploitation of water currents carrying food particles to mouthparts and to swimming legs. The reason of the occurrence on swimming legs is less clear and needs further observations. Pertinent results are described and discussed and the influence of epibionts on life cycle and behavior of Tigriopus fulvus is considered

The Mauve Stinger Pelagia noctiluca (Forsskål, 1775). Distribution, Ecology, Toxicity and Epidemiology of Stings. A Review

The toxicity of Cnidaria is a subject of concern due to its influence on humans. In particular, jellyfish blooms can highly affect human economical activities, such as bathing, fishery, tourism, etc., as well as the public health. Stinging structures of Cnidaria (nematocysts) produce remarkable effects on human skin, such as erythema, swelling, burning and vesicles, and at times further severe dermonecrotic, cardio- and neurotoxic effects, which are particularly dangerous in sensitive subjects. In several zones the toxicity of jellyfish is a very important health problem, thus it has stimulated the research on these organisms; to date toxicological research on Cnidarian venoms in the Mediterranean region is not well developed due to the weak poisonousness of venoms of jellyfish and anemones living in this area. In spite of this, during last decades several problems were also caused in the Mediterranean by stinging consequent to Cnidarian blooms mainly caused by Pelagia noctiluca (Forsskål, 1775) which is known to be the most venomous Mediterranean jellyfish. This paper reviews the knowledge on this jellyfish species, particularly considering its occurrence and toxicity

Utilization of Marine Crustaceans as Study Models: A New Approach in Marine Ecotoxicology for European (REACH) Regulation

Pollution problems affect greatly the aquatic environments that are mainly sensitive to several typologies of contamination, such as chemical pollution, oil dumping, microbiological contamination from sewers, etc. To date a lot of chemicals are utilized in productive processes and many new substances are synthesized every year; the utilization and introduction of these newly synthesized chemicals into the environment and in production cycles must be approved after an accurate evaluation of their eventual toxic properties against selected organisms with the main purpose to protect the safety of plants and animals and the human health. These evaluations need to be carried out using test-species which are representative of the environmental compartment under consideration; in this connection, the availability of test-species able to furnish reliable and cheap results and to evaluate the activity of pollutants at the individual and ecosystem level is essential. To date the availability of test-species, easy to collect and to rear, and sensitive to different xenobiotics, is an important aspect in ecotoxicology in order to characterize the risk of chemicals. In the aquatic environment an ideal battery of organisms should comprise the representative links of the food web: a primary producer, such as a microalga, a primary consumer (invertebrate), such as a crustacean, and a secondary consumer (vertebrate), such as a fish. In this connection, the new European regulation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization of CHemicals) n. 1907/2006 introduces an integrated system for the management of all produced/imported chemicals for an amount \ub31 ton/year and states that all substances destined to be used in the EU and to be introduced into the production processes must be subject to accurate evaluation including toxicity tests on selected organisms. All tests indicated by REACH must be carried out in conformity with well defined analysis methods determined by the EU or, failing that, according to the OECD guidelines or to other determined methods. Furthermore, all tests must be performed in conformity with the principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) according to the pertinent Community directive

The venom and the toxicity of Pelagia noctiluca (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa). A review of three decades of research in Italian laboratories and future perspectives

Recurrent outbreaks of Pelagia noctiluca and health problems consequent to stings were recorded during the last decades. This phenomenon forced some Italian University laboratories to study this cnidarian. The first studies concerned the distribution, biochemical composition and morphology of nematocysts of Pelagia noctiluca. The discharge mechanism of nematocysts was defined starting from early 1980s when enzymes, cations, anions, and pH were observed to have an influence on this process. Notably, trypsin, extreme pH values, some anions (I–, Cl–, SCN–), and thioglycolate were seen to induce, while La3+ and Gd3+ to prevent, nematocyst discharge. The discharge of both in situ and isolated nematocyst was found to be Ca2+ dependent. Furthermore, Pelagia noctiluca nematocysts were seen to retain their discharging capacity in distilled water. The toxicological evaluations were carried out mainly using the crude venom from Pelagia noctiluca because, unfortunately, to date the composition of venom remains unknown. Hemolytic and cytotoxic properties of crude venom have been evaluated on erythrocytes and cultured guinea-pig fibroblasts, mouse fibroblasts, and cancer (neuroblastoma) cells. The activity of Pelagia noctiluca venom on other cnidarians has been also assessed. The crude venom induced apoptosis by reactive oxygen species generation and decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential, loss of mitochondrial integrity, and alteration of cell membrane permeability. A pore-forming action mechanism on mitochondrial membrane with oxidative damage was also suggested. The protective activity of some compounds against envenomations has been also evaluated. Future challenges will concern the attempts to characterize the venom and to perform a wider screening of cytotoxicity induced to normal and cancer cells

Pediatric ileal intussusception due to Peutz Jeghers syndrome: a rare case report

We report an unusual case of ileal intussusception in a 7-year-old girl affected by Peutz Jeghers syndrome, characterized by a very misleading clinical presentation, resembling chronic constipation. Correct diagnosis was guided through appropriate knowledge of inherited condition and cautious ultrasound monitoring. Confirmation was achieved by a timely surgical intervention and subsequent pathologic examination

Effects of environmental factors on Tigriopus fulvus, Fischer 1860, a Mediterranean harpacticoid copepod

Tigriopus fulvus (Fischer, 1860) is a benthic harpacticoid copepod of the Mediterranean supralittoral zone. The transitional characteristics of this environment forced this species to develop high resistance to changes of environmental parameters. Nevertheless, Tigriopus fulvus life-cycle is influenced from the splashpools physical-chemical parameters. In this paper, we present the results of a supralittoral monitoring performed in 2014, confirming the influence of some of these environmental parameters on population buildups. Because of recent worldwide climate change effects, a threat might have been posed on this particularly exposed organism, whose population density decreased of a sixfold value in the last 30 years. During the three pools (A, B, C) monitoring, the maximum copepod density recorded was 1456 Ind/l (September 2014, Pool C), alongside first records of extinction event for Tigriopus fulvus

Impact of synthetic surfactants and oil dispersants on the gills of juvenile gilthead (Sparus aurata L.)

Histological, scanning electron microscopic and immunohistochemical studies were performed on the gills of juvenile gilthead (Sparus aurata L.) exposed to various concentrations of three anionic detergents: sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), safety sea cleaner 2 (SSC2), and FINASOL OSR2, in short term (96 h) and chronic (28 days) experiments. The mortality rate, median lethal concentration (LC50) and the no observed effect concentration (NOEC), were calculated. At concentrations above 10 mg/L, mortality was from 50 to 100% after exposure to SDS and SSC2, both in short term and chronic experiments. Gills were spongiotic and there were many lamellar fusions, membrane disruptions, hydropic degenerations and exfoliations of lamellar and interlamellar epithelium after 96 h of treatment and more markedly after chronic experiment. Microridges of the cell surface were less evident or absent. The enzymes of ion transport were down regulated. Exposure to FINASOL OSR2 (100 mg/L) showed no evident branchial alteration

Hashimoto Thyroiditis in Primary Thyroid Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) in primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) and whether it differs between mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHODS: Electronic databases were searched for studies assessing HT prevalence in PTL, based on antithyroid antibodies, clinical history, or pathology. Pooled prevalence of HT and its association with histotype (MALT or DLBCL) were calculated. RESULTS: Thirty-eight studies with 1,346 PTLs were included. Pooled prevalence results were 78.9% (any HT evidence), 65.3% (antithyroid antibodies), 41.7% (clinical history), and 64% (pathology). HT prevalence was significantly higher in MALT lymphoma than in DLBCL (P = .007) and in mixed DLBCL/MALT than in pure DLBCL (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, 78.9% of patients with PTL have any HT evidence, but only half of these had been clinically followed. The difference in HT prevalence suggests that a subset of DLBCL may not derive from MALT lymphoma

Nutrition: a key environmental dietary factor in clinical severity and cardio-metabolic risk in psoriatic male patients evaluated by 7-day food-frequency questionnaire

Western dietary pattern is included among the environmental dietary factors involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Nutritional data collection methods and gender differences might affect the association between diet and psoriasis. The 7-day food records is considered the "gold standard" of self-administered food frequency questionnaires. In this study, we evaluated the differences in the dietary intake, anthropometric measurements and cardio-metabolic risk profile in a group of psoriatic patients compared with an age and Body Mass Index (BMI)-matched control group. In addition, in the group of psoriatic patients we investigated the association between the dietary intake and clinical severity of psoriasis