Variabilità spazio-temporale della microalga <i>Chrysophaeum taylorii</i> Lewis &amp; Bryan lungo le coste nord-orientali della Sardegna = Spatio-temporal variabilty of the microalga <i>Chrysophaeum taylorii</i> Lewis &amp; Bryan along North-Eastern Sardinian coasts

In the summer months of 2010 the cell density of the alien benthic microalga Chrysophaeum taylorii Lewis &amp; Bryan (Pelagophyceae) was assessed on hard benthic substrates in sixteen study sites along the north-eastern coast of Sardinia in order to obtain useful information on spatial and temporal variations of the species in the area during summer

Determinants of depression in 111 italian patients with systemic sclerosis

Background: A high prevalence of depressive symptoms has been described in systemic sclerosis (SSc), but no clear association with organ involvement or objective indices of disease severity has been depicted. To date, no effort has been made to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Italian patients with SSc or to clarify their cause. Methods: One-hundred-eleven SSc patients were asked to fill in the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) questionnaire, the scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire (sHAQ) and two additional questions assessing the patient's familiar support and the social consequences of the patient's change in physical appearnace. Results: Thirty-seven subjects (33.4%) presented mild to severe depressive symptoms (BDI ³17). On univariate analysis the diffuse cutaneous form of the disease (p=0.019), higher pulmonary systolic pressures on echocardiogram (p=0.016), lower FVC percentage of predicted values (p=0.022), higher sHAQ values (p<0.001) or higher VAS values for pain (p=0.007), lung involvement (p=0.02), Raynaud's phenomenon severity (p=0.002), ulcers severity (p=0.006) or disease severity (p<0.001), were associated with the presence of pathologic depressive symptoms. On multivariate analysis only the VAS for disease severity relevant to BDI scores (p=0.016). Social behaviour changes due to SSc-related physical involvement were reported in 14 patients (38%) with depressive symptoms (p=0,006) and were more likely to be observed in younger patients (p=0.001) with a more severe Raynauds's phenomenon (p=0.013). Conclusions: Mild to severe depressive symptoms are common in SSc patients especially in those with a worse perception of disease severity, these patients should be carefully monitored and a psychological assistance counselled whenever necessary

Esperimento di rimozione degli ammassi mucillaginosi della microalga alloctona <i>Chrysophaeum taylorii</i> Lewis &amp; Bryan = Experiment of removal of the mucilaginous aggregates by the alien microalga <i>Chrysophaeum taylorii</i> Lewis &amp; Bryan

A manipulative experiment was carried out in a small bay of Tavolara Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area in order to investigate the triggers for formation and storage of the macroscopic mucilaginous aggregates of the benthic microalga Chrisophaeum taylorii Lewis &amp; Bryan (Pelagophyceae) and to test the efficacy of mucillage removal

Effect of soil ph on the growth, reproductive investment and pollen allergenicity of ambrosia artemisiifolia L.

Despite the importance of soil reaction for alien plant establishment, few and incomplete studies have included this key factor so far. In this study, we investigated the effects of soil pH on the germination, growth (plant height, width, dry weight, etc.) and reproductive investment (inflorescence size and n\ub0 of flowers) of Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed), an allergenic species that is highly invasive and alien in Europe, through a replicated experiment in controlled conditions. In addition, we determined if soil pH has an effect on the total pollen allergenicity of the species. After preliminary germination tests on agar at different pH (from pH4 to pH8), plants were grown in natural soils with pH values of 5 (acid), 6 (sub-acid) and 7 (neutral) obtained by modifying a natural soil by liming methods (calcium hydroxide solution). Results showed that plants grown at pH7 were shorter and developed leaves at a slower rate than those grown at pH5 and pH6; plants grown at pH7 did not produce flowers and pollen. We also observed that, at pH5 and pH6, larger plants (as assessed by the dry weight of the aerial biomass) had both larger and more numerous inflorescences and emitted pollen earlier. Finally, the IgE-binding signal was higher in pollen samples collected from plants grown at pH5 (Integrated Optical Density, IOD, range: 1.12\u20131.25) than in those grown at pH6 (IOD range: 0.86 121.03). Although we acknowledge the limitations of only testing the effects of pH in controlled conditions, this study suggests that soil pH greatly affects the growth and development of A. artemisiifolia and indicates that it may have a role in limiting the distribution and hazardousness of this plant. Future field tests should therefore assess the effectiveness of liming in the management and control of ragweed and other alien species

CXCL5-mediated accumulation of mature neutrophils in lung cancer tissues impairs the differentiation program of anticancer CD8 T cells and limits the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors

Lung tumor-infiltrating neutrophils are known to support growth and dissemination of cancer cells and to suppress T cell responses. However, the precise impact of tissue neutrophils on programming and differentiation of anticancer CD8 T cells in vivo remains poorly understood. Here, we identified cancer cell-autonomous secretion of CXCL5 as sufficient to drive infiltration of mature, protumorigenic neutrophils in a mouse model of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Consistently, CXCL5 transcripts correlate with neutrophil density and poor prognosis in a large human lung adenocarcinoma compendium. CXCL5 genetic deletion, unlike antibody-mediated depletion, completely and selectively prevented neutrophils accumulation in lung tissues. Depletion of tumor-infiltrating neutrophils promoted expansion of tumor-specific CD8 T cells, differentiation into effector cells and acquisition of cytolytic functions. Transfer of effector CD8 T cells into neutrophil-rich tumors, inhibited IFN-ϒ production, indicating active suppression of effector functions. Importantly, blocking neutrophils infiltration in the lung, overcame resistance to checkpoint blockade. Hence, this study demonstrates that neutrophils curb acquisition of cytolytic functions in lung tumor tissues and suggests targeting of CXCL5 as a strategy to restore anti-tumoral T cell functions

Emotional training of facial nerve palsy : a preliminary report

Introduction: Differently from limb muscles, facial muscles motoneurons can be recruited by two descending motor pathways, one arising from the primary motor cortex and the second arising from the midcingulate area (1). Lesions involving the former pathway are associated to voluntary facial paresis, while lesions involving the latter are associated to emotional paresis (2). Patients suffering a voluntary facial paresis cannot voluntary smile, but for example they smile normally in response to jokes. On the contrary, patients suffering an emotional paresis can voluntarily mimic facial expressions, but are unable to produce spontaneous emotional expressions. During rehabilitation after facial nerve lesion, patients are commonly trained to produce symmetric and isolated voluntary movements [e.g. neuromuscular retraining (3)]. In this work we used emotional activation to train facial muscles after peripheral facial nerve palsy, according to the hypothesis that midcingulate area in addition to the primary motor cortex can participate to the motor recovery after facial nerve lesion. Materials: Tue House-Brackmann scale (HBS) was used to evaluate facial symmetry and synkinesis, both before and after the rehabilitation program. Methods: Ten patients (36-76 years) suffering a facial nerve lesion (6 Bell's palsy, 2 Ramsay Hunt syndrome, 2 post-surgery palsy) underwent up to 20 physiotherapy sessions. Each session ( 45 minutes long) was led by a physiotherapist. Consecutive sessions were kept at least 3 days apart. The emotional activation of the paretic facial muscles was obtained by asking patients to recall pleasant memories. Patients were guided by the therapist in increasing their awareness of the emotion-evoked movement by concentrating on kinesthesis. Results: On average, patients started the rehabilitation 80 days after the nerve lesion. At the beginning of the rehabilitation program, patients suffered a moderate facial asymmetry according to the HBS (median HBS score: 3.5; IQR: 3). At the end of the rehabilitation program, HBS score median was reduced to 1 (IQR: 1), indicating a more symmetric face and less severe synkinesis (Wilcoxon test, p = 0.002). Ali patients improved their HBS score. Discussion: Emotional training, a form of repetitive task-specific training, seems beneficial for people receiving rehabilitation following facial nerve lesion. Tue neural network mediating the emotional training effects could include structures of the limbic system such as the amygdala which are known to project to the facial muscle motoneurons via the midcingulate area (1). Conclusion: Emotional training of facial muscles led by a physiotherapist is a promising tool for rehabilitation after facial nerve lesions. References: 1. Morecraft RJ, Louie JL, Herrick JL, Stilwell-Morecraft KS. Cortical innervation of the facial nucleus in the non-human primate: a new interpretation of the effects of stroke and related subtotal brain trauma on the muscles of facial expression. Brain (2001);124:176-208 2. Gothard KM. Tue amygdalo-motor pathways and the control of facial expressions. Front Neurosci. (2014); 19(8):43 3. Nicastri M, Mancini P, De Seta D, Bertoli G, Prosperini L, Toni D, lnghilleri M, Filipo R. Efficacy of early physical therapy in severe Bell's palsy: a randomized controlled trial. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. (2013);27(6):542-5